I 



HISTORY 



OF THE 

bjEtECTION, CONVICTION, LIFE AND DESIGNS 

of 

JOHIV A. MUREL, 

•the great western liAiVD PIRATE* 

tOQETHEB WITH HIS SYSTEM OF VILLAINY, AND PLAN OF EXCITING A 

And a catalogue op the names of four hundiied and fortt-fivk of »td 

MYSTIC CLAN, FELLOWS AND FOLLOWERS, AND THEIR 
efforts for the DESTRUCTION OF 

iSR. TIROII. A. STEWARTj 

THE TOUNO MAN WHO DETECTED HIM* 

TO T^THICH IS ADDED A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 

IMER. VIRGIZ. A. STEWART. 



IbY AUGUSTUS Q. T^AI^TON, ESQ. 

RE-PUBUSHED BY GEORGE WHITE. 
PRIMTBD AT THK JOURNAL OFFICE. 'ENS, TENNESSEE, 

1835. 



PREFACE. 



In presenting the history of the great Western Land Pirate, John A. Murel, and 
his to lowers lo the world, I have discharged the duty and trust committed to ray 
care by my much esteemed young friend Mr. Virgil A. Stewart ; and fulfilled th» 
promise which I made him at the time I took charge of his papers, documents and 
business, when it was thought he was on his dying bed with the ilhiess produced by 
a wound intiicted by the hand of an assassin. Even in this great extremity of pain 
and misery, his greatest concern was that his country should have his information 
on that subject. There is no country under the canopy of Heaven, which has in 
any other age of the world, produced so formidable a banditti, so extensive in its 
operations, and so scientific in its plans, as the North American Land Piracy, af 
which John A. Murel was the leader and masterspirit, who directed its operation* 
against community ; but it was the will of Heaven that this enemy of the human 
family, and destroyer of the lives and happiness of man should be stopped in his 
fiendish and destructive career ; and that be should be delivered into the iron grasp 
of the otfended laws of his country, to satisfy the demands of bleeding justice.— 
The marvellous circumstances attending his detection will be highly calculated to 
amuse and entertain the reader, while it shows the power and protection of our 
Creator to those who look to him lor support and defence ; and may be a warning 
to others, who are posting the road to misery and degradation, and convince thera 
of the final justice of their Creator, betbre their consciences are forever seared to 
his reproots, by progressive crimes, which must eventually end in the fate of John 
A. Murel. If any one individual should be reclaimed, whose conscience has be- 
gun to be seared by transgression and crime, I will consider my labor more than 
remunerated. 

It must be acknowledged that John A. Murel has never been surpassed in cold 
blooded murders, by any whose names have been recorded on the pages of history, 
and other villainous fwats have never been surpassed by any who have preceded 
him. He may justly claim the honor of reducing villainy to an organized system, 
and he may as justly claim the most important station among adepts in crime and 
iniquity of the blackest kind. The extent of the designs of John A. Murel and 
his fellows are awful to reflect on. The blood, carnage, confusion and universal 
devastation, which were meditated by that daring and presumptuous banditti against 
their country and fellow beings, without the least regard lor age or sex. This 
proves that their adamant hearts are cold to every emotion which swells in the 
bosom of humanity. Beings who can coolly and deliberately deprive an unoffend- 
ing human being of his life, and mangle his body with as little emotion or feeling 
as if he was a brute — and wjtiat is still more awful to the imagination, to think of 
seeing whole cities wrapped in smoke and flames, and houses and human beings 
together swallowed up by quirling sheets of fire ; and hear the desponding screams 
of innocent sufterers while in the agonies of death, without being moved to com- 
passion, or deterred from their awful purposes. 

As to the names given in Murel's mystic catalogue, there is no person responsi- 
ble but Murel himself, he being the person who gave them as his followers. 

There is a large portion of this publication given in John A. Murel's own lan- 
guage, some of which is quiie obscene, and presumptuously profane. 

There is likewise the language of Virgil A. Stewart given in many dialogues 
between himself and Murel ; and I would further remark, that I have given th« 
language of Mr. Stewart's own notes on many occasions. 

AUGUSTUS Q. WALTON. 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 

It has been a notorious fact, for a number of years past, that negroes and fine 
horses are frequently missing from the farms of planters and the citizens of the 
Mississippi Valley, and never ag'ain heard of by the unfortunate owners. These 
occurrences in many parts of the Southern and Western countnes are so frequent, 
that they have beconip a matter of the greatest concern to persons whose capital 
is invested in property of that kind, there being no security of its safety, as they 
do not know on what night their farms may be robbed of a part of their most valu- 
able horses and negroes. 

The number of detections for offences of this kind, have been inconsiderable, 
when compared with the great number of outrages which have been committed by 
a mysterious banditti, whose deep laid plans and well organized system of villainy 
has heretofore evaded every effort of the law to bring its vicious and destroying 
members to justice. There have been many imaginary suppositions concerning 
the means which were employed by this mysterious banditti in effecting so much 
destruction and distress to community. 

On the night of the 18th of January, 1834, Parson John Henning and his son, of 
Madison county, in the State of Tennessee, lost two negro men from their farm ; 
and it appears that Providence, in the wise dispensation of his mercies to the slave- 
holding States, used the outrage committed on the property of Parson Henning, 
as a blessing to the community, in developing an organized system of villainy, and 
exposing a piratical clan, and detecting the leader and master spirit, who directed 
its operations against society. It was in the investigation of this felony, that John 
A. Murel, the great Western Land Pirate, and his clan were detected, and their 
awful deeds exposed, and their more awful plans and designs defeated. 



HISTORY, &e. 



CHAPTER I. 

John A. Mure], the far-famed personage, who by reason of his 
distinguished acts of villainy has acquired the title of the Western 
Land Pirate, was born in the State of Tennessee, and at a very ten- 
der age he acquired considerable fame for his skill in the perform- 
ance of feats of villainy. His notoriety m his native county had 
become a matter of considerable inconvenience to his designs, and 
so he concluded to hunt a country better adapted to his profession. 
He selected a home in the western district of the State of Tennes- 
see, in Madison county ; in this new country, where society was not 
much refined, Murel expected to enjoy the profits of his skill and in- 
genuity in villainy in an uninterrupted state ; but a rich and fertile 
country, like the western district of Tennessee, held out too many 
inducements to the industrious and enterprising world to remain long 
in a state of rudeness. Wealth and fashion have superseded the 
rough fore-runner of the country, and the western district of Ten- 
nessee can now afford ample materials for Murel and his mystic 
clan to work on, which are negroes and fine horses. The infamous 
character which followed him from his native county, and his rava- 
ges in the adjoining neighborhood, soon taught the citizens of that 
vicinity to abhor and dread him. The frequent thefts which were 
committed in the adjoining counties and country, and the long trips 
and absence of Murel from home, which no person could account 
for, convinced community of his guilt ; though by his unparalleled 
skill and management, he still evaded the laws of his country ; and 
so paved the way to his acts of villainy that the law Mould not affect 
him should he be detected. 

The first grand detection of Murel, that was satisfactory to the 
community in the vicinity of his new home, of the baseness of his 
character, was the case of Mr. Long, of Madison county, Tennes- 
see. It appeared that Murel had decoyed three of Mr. Long's ne- 
gro men from his possession, and had harbored them in a rough wood 
near his house for a considerable time. Mr. Long believed they 
had run away, and were harbored by some negro in the neighbor- 
hood; but at length the time was drawing nigh for Murel to remove 
them and convert them to his own use. One of the negroes had 
left some of his clothing at home which he wanted, so he emerged 
from his lurking place that Murel had placed him in, and ventured 
home for his clothing. The overseer happened to discover and took 
him ; and extorted from this fellow where his fellow servants were, 



and the designs of Murel. Mr. Long gathered a company and went 
to the lurking wood and surrounded the negroes, having the one first 
taken for a pilot. The negroes told Mr. Long the time that Murel 
would come to feed them. Mr. Long told his slaves to ask Murel 
certain questions concerning his moving them, and then disposed his - 
company around the thick wood so as to hear Murel's answers to 
the interrogations of the negroes. At the time the negroes had said, 
Murel appeared in the wood with a basket of provisions on his arm. 
Mr. Long, after hearing the questions answered by Alurel, which he 
had directed his slaves to ask, give the signal for them to seize and 
hold him fast, which they did. When Mr. Long and his company 
advanced forward, Murel, with much plausibility, mformcd Mr. Long 
that he had found his black boys, and had been feeding them there 
so as to detain them there until he give him word where they were, 
but Mr. Long had heard his sentiments before in their purity. Mur- 
el was lodged in prison ; but his friends enabled him to give bail, and 
many thought he would not appear on the day of trial, but Murel ap- 
peared. On an investigation of the law against negro harboring, it 
was found to be a fineable offence, and not, as was supposed by ma- 
ny persons, a penitentiary crime ; and that it could not be brought 
under the penal code. Murel was fined several hundred dollars, and 
in case the amount could not be made out of his property, the decis- 
ion of the court was, that he should become Mr. Long's slave for 
five years. 

Murel made an appeal to the Supreme Court, and took exceptions 
to the constitutionality of the law against negro harboring. Every 
person appeared astonished that Murel had escaped the penitentia- 
ly ; and on an investigation of the law he was about to come clear, 
and overset the law entirely against that offence. Murel and his 
friends appeared much elated and became quite insolent and daring. 
DurTng'the trial for the ofl'ence against Mr. Long's property, all good 
men in the vicinity appeared to take some interest in the matter, to 
get rid of so dangerous a character. All of these Murel singled out 
as victims of his vengeance. He was not in the habit of stealing in 
his immediate neighborhood before. He worked at a distance ; but 
now his revengeful nature was excited against many persons in his 
immediate neighborhood ; among this number he had enrolled the 
good old Parson John Henning and his son, who on the night of the 
18ih of January, 1834, lost two negro men from their farm in Madi- 
son county, Tennessee. Circumstances convinced them that their 
nejrroes were stolen, as soon as they were missing. The movements 
of "Murel were watched by persons appointed for that purpose. — 
Parson Henning believed that if Murel was the thief, he would be 
likely to go where the negroes were, so soon as suspicion against 
him had apparently subsided. Some time had elapsed, and all search 
for the negroes had ceased; but there was still a strict watch over 
the movements of Murel. He became very impatient to be off: but 
was too keen, and had too many friends, not to discover that suspi- 



cion rested upon him. The Parson determined that if he went off, 
he would try to ascertain where he went to, if it was possible to'fol- 
low his track. He thought that if he could not come up with his 
negroes, that he might get on the course that they were taken, so that 
he might follow them. The Parson's watch learned that Murel was 
going to start for Randolph, a little town on the Mississippi river. — 
Parson Henning solicited a young friend of his, who was at his house 
on a visit, to accompany his son on the expedition of following Mur- 
el. The Parson knew him to be of untiring perseverence, and well 
schooled in the disposition of man ; and possessed of an inordinate 
share of public spirit. The Parson insisted on remunerating him for 
his trouble ; but he refused pay for any services that he might ren- 
der on that occasion ; but parted with the Parson under the prom- 
ise to do all in his power to reclaim his property. This young man 
had lived in the neighborhood two years, not far from the Parson's, 
but had been gone from there nine months. He had seen Murel 
once in his life to know him ; but he was not close to him, and could 
not have a very correct idea of his features. The young man stayed 
all night at a friends house, not far from the Parson's, the night be- 
fore he was to start with the Parson's son. They agreed to meet in 
Denmark, a little county hamlet four miles from the Parson's the next 
morning. The young man was prompt in his attendance, but young 
Henning failed to attend. He waited for him several hours, and he 
still failed to come. The young man became impatient and started 
on, believing his friend had taken sick, as he was complaming when 
he parted with him. He had concluded to undertake the trip by 
himself. He left Denmark about ten o'clock, and proceeded to- 
wards Estanauly, a little hamlet on Hatchee river, seven miles from 
Denmark. The weather was very cold and the road much cut up 
with carriages, and then hard frozen, and covered with sleet. It was 
bad travelling, and he got on but slow. 

Both man and beast were every where housed, and nothing mov- 
ing but himself. His meditations were not interrupted, on the lone- 
ly road from Denmark to Estanauly, by the appearance of a human 
being. The smoke that rose from a group of small cabins thinly 
scattered along a little island of high ground near the Hatchee river, 
informed him that Estanauly was near at hand. There was nothing 
in this scene to inspire or animate. The smoke from the cabins had 
settled among the heavy timber of an extensive bottom in large black 
columns, and seemed to wrap all nature in deep mourning. Such 
a scene was calculated to impress the idea, that nature was weeping 
over the miseries of the inhabitants of so dreary a spot. He arriv- 
ed at the toll house and called the keeper to the door, and was en- 
quiring if Murel had passed, and whether his gates could be passed in 
the night without his knowledge ; and while he was making his en- 
quiries, the keeper turned round and observed, "yonder comes Mur- 
el now." The young man turned round but Murel was too near for 
him to reply. Murel rode up, paid his toll, and passed on without 



8 

any ceremony. The young man discovered that Mu"el did not 
know him. After Murel had passed by, the young man asked the 
keeper if he was certain that it was Murcl that passed. The keeper 
asserted that it was ; that he knew him well. The young man paid 
his toll, and started after him. 



CHAPTER II. 



Murel had not started at the time the Parson learned he would, 
and the young man was astonished to find himself ahead of the man 
whom he thought he was following. He had passed Murel in Den- 
mark. He had stopped at the house of one of his friends in that 
village ; and was engaged in writing a letter to young Henning. — 
His friends had given him intimation that young Henning intended 
to follow after him. These friends were plenty, and many of them 
respectable, so Murel had the advantage ; but no. person knew that 
this young friend of the. Parson's was going, for he did not know it 
himself until late in the evening, the day before he started. Murel 
wrote to young Henning that he had learned he charged him with 
taking his negroes, and if it was true he could whip him from the 
point of a dagger to the anchor of a ship, and made use of a variety 
of expressions highly charged with irony and sarcasm ; and then 
concluded by saying that if what he had heard was false, that he 
wished him to receive his epistle as a friendly letter ; and stated that 
he was going to Randolph on some private business, and desired 
young Henning to come and go with him, and satisfy himself that he 
was not on any dishonest bnsiness. This letter was immediately 
sent to Henning ; but Murel did not wait to see whether Henning 
would accept of his company or not, but pushed on ; in fact he did 
not wish his company ; but this was his artifice to prevent his follow- 
ing. While the young man was in Denmark there was not much 
passing. It was extremely cold, and all were closely housed, and 
around the fires, so he passed out of the place without seeing Murel, 
and travelled just before him all the way from Denmark to Estan- 
auly. 

After Murel had passed the young man at the toll house, there was 
no difficulty in getting on his track. The young man followed on 
behind Murel a short distance ; but it struck him that he would ven- 
ture a trick on him, and see if he could not impose himself as a horse 
hunter, and travel in company with him — so he rode on and over- 
took him. He spoke very politely to Murel, and Murel returned the 
civihty in equal address ; but glanced a severe look of enquiry and 
scrutiny at him, as his head turned away. When the following dia- 
logue ensued : 



Stranger. We have disagreeable travelling, sir. 

Murel. Extremely so, sir. 

S. The travelling and my business correspond very much. 

M. Pray sir, what can be your business, that you should com- 
pare it to travelling on such a road as this ? 

<S^. Horse hunting, sir, 

M. Yes, yes, disagreeable indeed ; your comparison is not a bai 
one. Where did your horse stray from, sir ? 

S. From Yallabusher river, in the Choctaw Purchase. 

M. Where is he aiming for, sir? 

8. I do not know ; I am told that he was owned by a man in 
this country somewhere : but it is an uncertain business, and a cross 
and pile chance. [He had been requested by a friend in the Pur- 
chase to enquire for a certain nag, as he was going to Tennessee, so 
he made it the description.] 

M. How far down will you go, sir? 

S. I do not know. The roads are so very bad, and the weather 
so excessively cold, that I am very tired of such an uncertain busi- 
ness, and I am quite lonesome travelling by myself. How far down 
will you go on this road ? 

M. About eighteen miles, to the house of a friend. I am anx- 
ious to get there but it will be very late travelling in such cold weath- 
er. Sir, perhaps your horse is stolen. 

S. No, I guess not : though I had much rather some good fellow 
had stolen him, than for him to be straying. 

Here the young stranger discovered that Murel was much pleas- 
ed at the expression which had just fallen, apparently inadvertently 
from his lips. 

M. Sir, are you acquainted in this part of the country ? 

S. I am a stranger, sir. 

M. Where are you from, sir ? 

S. I was born in the State of Georgia, and raised there ; but I 
have moved to the Choctaw Nation, and have been there about nine 
or ten months. 

M. How do you like that country, sir ? 

S. Very well, sir. 

M. Is there much stealing going on in that country ? 

S. No, not much, considering we are pretty much savages and 
forerunners. You know how all new countries are generally first 
settled, sir. 

M. Certainly, sir, I am well acquainted with these things. 

Here the young stranger discovered that Murel became much 
more free and open in his manner, and that enquiring look all disap- 
peared ; for he did not know but what he was some person that 
would be acquainted with his character ; but when he learned that 
the stranger was from Georgia, and that he had been in the Choc- 
taw Nation only nine or ten months, he knew that he could know 
nothing of him or his character ; and the young man had nothing to 

2 



10 

do now but to dissemble well, to remain in Murel's company with- 
out being suspected, and Murel having said that he was going to the 
house of a friend, made the young stranger much more anxious to 
continue with him ; for he was in hopes to meet with the good old 
Parson's negroes at the house. 

JNfurel and the stranger travelled on, conversing quite free, for sev- 
eral miles, and had changed ideas on several matters, the stranger 
endeavoring to learn the bent of the mind and disposition of the 
master spirit that he had to deal with. The conversation turned 
again on stealing, which was Murel's favorite subject ; a topic on 
which he could dwell with the utmost pleasure and satisfaction, as in 
the following dialogue. 

Mure!. This country is about to be completely overrun by a com- 
pany of rogues ; and they arc so strong, that nothing can be done 
with them. They steal from whom they please ; and if the person 
they take from accuses them, they jump on more of his property ; 
and they find that the best plan is to be friendly with them. There 
are two young men who moved down from Middle Tennessee to 
Madison county, keen shrewd fellows — The eldest brother is one of 
the d — dest best judges of law that there is in the United States. — 
He directs the operations of the banditti : and he so paves his way 
to all his offences that the law cannot reach him. 

Stranger. Well sir, if they have sense enough to evade the laws 
of their country, which are made by the wisest men of the nation, 
let them do it. It is no harm. It is just as honorable for them to 
gain property by their superior powers, as it is for a long faced hyp- 
ocrite to take the advantage of the necessities of his fellow-beings. 
We are placed here, and we must act for ourselves, or we feel the 
chilling blasts of charity's cold region, and we feel worse than that, 
we feel the power of opulent wealth ; and the sneer of pompous 
show ; and. sir, what is it that constitutes character, popularity and 
power, in the United States? Sir, it is property : strip a man of his 
property in this country, and he is a luincd man indeed — you see his 
friends forsake him; and he may have been raised in the highest cir- 
cles of society, yet he is neglected and treated with contempt. Sir, 
my doctrine is, let the hardest fend off. 

M. You have expressed my sentiments and feelings better than 
what I could myself, and I am happy to fall in with company pos- 
sessed of principles so congenial with my own : I have no doubt 
but these two brothers are as honorable among their associates and 
clan as any men on earth, but perfect devils to their enemies ; they 
are undaunted spirits, and can seldom or never be found when they 
are not armed like men of war. The citizens of Madison have once 
attempted to arrest the eldest brother for having three of a certain 
Mr. Long's negroes in his possession ; and they carried near a whole 
captain's company for a guard, and if they had not taken a cowardly 
advantage of him, he would have backorl them all — though he cared 
nothing for the charge. He knew that they could not hurt him : but 



11 

they took him prisoner, and carried him before a d d old -jackass 

of a Sq-jire, who neither knew nor cared for the law or his duty ; 
and would have committed him against positive proof, and there is 
no doubt but Long perjured himself in endeavoring to convict him. 
The people thought he was good for the penitentiary, but he defied 
them, and told them they were all fools : that it was only a fineable 
offence, to make the worst of it, and he had plenty of friends to bail 
him. On the day of trial the house was thronged to hear the trial. 
He had employed the most eminent lawyer at the bar, Andrew L. 
Martin, and during the trial he took his lawyer one side and cursed, 

and told him that, d n him, he paid him his money to work for 

him, and that he could not get him to work the way he wanted him. 
He showed Martin the law, and got him in the M'ay, and he gave 
them hell. He is a flowery fellow ; but he has not dived into the 
qmrks of the law like his client. They mulcted him with a fine and 
costs of suit, and in case his property would not make the amount, 
he was to become Long's slave for five years. When the verdict 
was read, he winked at Long, and called him master Billy. He took 
an appeal to the Supreme Court ; and there is no doubt of his get- 
ting rid of the whole scrape at the May term, in spite of all the pre- 
judice that is against him. Though there has been bad consequences 
attending the matter, one of his strongest friends has suffered, in 
consequence of suspicion of being his friend. He was the deputy 
sherift', and as fine a fellow as ever lived. After they found that they 
could do nothing with him at law, they formed a company, and ad- 
vertised for all honest men to meet at a certain school house in the 
neighborhood, on a certain day. They met and bound themselves 
in certain matters ; made rules and laws for the government of the 
company ; and in this company he had some of the strongest friends, 
who would inform him of their movements in the shortest time. He 
got several guns, and made an immense quantity of catridges, and 
prepared his house and buildings with port-holes, ready for an en- 
gagement. On the day they published that they would be there to 
slick him, he had eighteen friends who came to his assistance. He 
disposed of them in different buildings, so as to commence a fair 
fire to rake the door of his dwelling; but they got a hint that it would 
be a dangerous undertaking, and gave it up as a bad job ; and a 
fine thing for them, fur if they had gone he \vould have been apt to 
liave cut them all olf, situated as he was — and the law would have 
protected him in the course he intended to pursue. 

But all who had any thing to do with it have got d d sick of 

it, and are trying to make fair weather with him. Not that they love 
him, but because they dread him as they do the very devil himself — 
and well they may, for he has swore vengeance against some, and 
he will comply. He is a fellow of such smooth and genteel man- 
ners, that he is very imposing ; and many of the more credulous 
part of community, are induced to believe that he is persecuted by 
Long, when he only intended friendship and kindness, in catching 



12 

his negroes for him. He well knows how to excite the sympathy of 
the human heart, and turn things to his advantage, lie rarely fails 
to captivate the feelings of those whom he undertakes ; and what is 
more astonishing he has succeeded in many instances where the 
strongest prejudice has existed ; and where his revenge has been 
excited he never fails to effect either the destruction of their proper- 
ty or character, and frequently both. He has frequently been com- 
pelled to remove prejudices of the strongest kind, for the purpose of 
getting a man into his power whom he wishes to destroy. In a mat- 
ter of this kind, he has never-tiring persevcrence ; and many have 
become wise when it was too late, and sunk under the influence ot 
his great managing powers. 

There is an old Methodist preacher and his son who have had two 
very fine negro men stolen a short time back ; and this old Parson 
Henning and his son were officious in procuring counsel, and ex- 
pressing their sentiments about him and his brother, and saying what 
the country ought to do with them, and all such stuflf as this ; and I 
have no doubt but those two young men have got them. They live 
within about two miles of the old preacher, and he and his son are 
as feared of these two young men as il they were ravenous beasts 
that were turned loose in the forest ; if they were sure of finding 
their negroes by following them oft', they would sooner loose their 
property than to fall into the hands of those dreaded men. 

In fact they have managed with such skill, that they have become 
a complete terror to the country ; and when property is missing in 
that country, and there is any suspicions that those two young men 
are concerned with it, all is given up as lost ; and it is considered 
time and money spent in vain to follow them. 

S. These two young men must be of the first order of talents 
and acquirements, or they could never sustain themselves among 
people and a community where there are such strong prejudices 
against them. And that elder brother whom you speak of, must be 
endowed with some supernatural power, or an extraordinary capa- 
city, and practical experience ; for the erasing prejudices of a stub- 
born nature are considered to be the hardest change to effect in the 
human mind. I would warrant them to be devoted friends, and no- 
ble spirits, in the sphere in which they move, and this old preacher 
you speak of is no more even if he is what he pretends to be, and 
that you know, we can doubt as we please, or rather as it best suits 
our convenience. He was their enemy, and treated them as such, 
when they had not been hostile to him ; and they are his enemies 
now, for cause ; and if they are what my imagination has made 
them, he will have cause to repent in sackcloth and ashes for his 
sins. But, sir, to my doctrine, let the hardest fend oft'. They are 
enemies, and let them lock horns. What age is that wonderous 
man you speak of? 

M. He is about thirty I suppose, and his brother just grown up, 
and as smart a fellow as the elder brother, but not half the experi- 



13 

ence. I will tell you of one of his routes on a speculation a few 
months past, and you can judge for yourself whether he is possessed 
of talents or not. There was a negro man by the name of Sam, 
that had been sold out of the neighborhood of these two young men, 
to a man by the name of Eason, near Florence, AlabamB.. The el- 
der brother was passing that way, on one of his scouts, and happen- 
ing to see Sam, inquired of him how he liked his new home and 
master. "He is hell," said Sam. "Well," said he, "Sam, you know 
me, and you know how to leave the rascal ; run away from him and 
get back into your old range, and all things are safe." It was not 
long until Sam was at his house. He harbored him until Eason ad- 
vertised him as a runaway, and offered a reward for him ; that was 
what he wanted to see. He procured a copy of the advertisement, 
and put it and the negro into the hands of his brother, and a fellow 
by the name of Forsyth, and told them to push and make hay while 
the sun shines. They were gone about seven weeks, and his broth- 
er returned with fourteen hundred dollars in cash, seven hundred 
dollars worth of ready made clothing, and a draft on Thomas Hud- 
nel, of Madison county. State of Mississippi, for seven hundred dol- 
lars, which is as good as gold dust ; though he has to sue for the 
draft ; but the recovery is sure — for they can never get the negro, 
and without him they can never prove that he was Eason's n&gro, 
and he will recover the amount of the draft in spite of hell. Hud- 
nel became suspicious that they got the negro again, and wrote on to 
the house which the draft vv^as drawn on to protest it. They did not 
act in that matter as the elder brother, or the old fox would have 
done ; though for young hands they made a fine drag. They did 
not go immediately on and draw the cash, as one of them should 
have done, but delayed, trying to make more sales, and delayed too 
long, before the draft was presented. That is twenty-eight hundred 
dollars he sold Eason's negro for and now has the negro in Texas, 
in the hands of a friend : they did not make the disposition of Sam, 
which they generally do with negroes on such occasions; he is too 

d d fine a fellow ; and I think they will make more money on 

him when things get a little still. Sam is keen and artful, and he is 
up to any thing that was ever wrapped in that much negro hide. 

If Eason had got on the track and caught him, he could have done 
nothing with him. 

jS. 1 cannot see how he would have evaded the law in that instance. 

M. It is a plain case, sir, when the law is examined by a man 
who understands the criminal law. In the first place the negro was 
a run away, and had escaped from Eason's possession : and in the 
second place, Eason had offered a reward for his negro to any man 
who would catch him. This advertisement amounts to the same, in 
virtue, as a power of attorney, to take his property, and act for him 
to a certain extent ; so you see that the advertisement is a commis- 
sion to take the property into possession ; now if the holder of the 
property chooses to make a breach of the trust which the advertise- 



14 

ment confides in him : and instead of can ying the negro to tlje own- 
er, he converts him to liis own use — this is not steahng, and the 
owner can only have redress in a civil action for the amount of his 
property : and as fjr a civil action they care nothing for that, for they 
will not keep property. Their funds are deposited in a bank that 
belongs to the clan. This is the way his ingenuity perplexes them. 
lie has sifted the criminal laws until they are no more in his hands 
than an old almanac, and he dreads them no more. But w hat is it 
that he cannot do with as many iViends as he has, who are willing to 
be subject to him, and his views, in ail things; there lies his power: 
his great talent in governing his clan, lie is universally beloved by 
his followers. 

S. Such a man as that, placed in a situation to make a display of 
his talents, would soon reader the name and remembrance of an 
Alexander, or of a Jackson, little and inconsiderable, wlien compar- 
ed with him ; he is great from the force of his own mental powers, 
and they are great, from their station in the world, in which fortune, 
more than powers have placed them. 

Here the young stranger, for the first time, discovered that his en- 
comiums on the character of this marvellous elder brother, had reach- 
ed the modesty of Murel ; or produced any other efiTect on him, 
more than to stimulate his natural vanity, which is very great, and 
much like his passions, ungovernable ; but when the stranger had 
eclipsed so brilliant characters with him, he could not acquiesce in 
the sentiment without a modest blush, and a falter in the voice, which 
detected his feelings. He seemed to fall into a reverie of thought, 
and there was a silence between the two mysterious friends for sev- 
eral minutes, which had not been the case for some time before. — 
The young stranger had discovered that his vanity was his accessible 
point, and he wished to learn its bounds, when he made the compar- 
ison of Alexander and Jackson. 

It began to grow late in the evening, and the sun shone dimly as 
it was sinking below the western horizon, and reflected a beautiful 
dim light from the sleet which shielded the lofty young timber of 
Poplar creek bottom ; as they entered the bottom, Murel remarked, 
this is a beautiful scene, and will conduct us through the bottom, and 
then there is no more bad road from here U) my old friend's. As 
they prssed on through the tall young Poplars that had grown up in 
an old hurricane of past years, the mingled rays of light and dark- 
ness that veiled all nature, and enveloped the young stranger, and his 
mysterious friend, were highly calculated to produce superstitious 
notions ; and in those ms'sterious days which brought such events to 
pass. The young stranger began to feel as though he was on en- 
chanted ground, and directed by some superior power in his move- 
ments. His mind was filled with these strange phantoms ; and all 
the old superstitious stories that he iiad heard or read in his whole 
life, appeared to crowd themselves on his mind, while passing this 
bottom. The old Parson's negroes began to occupy his thoughts, 



15 

and stimulated with the hope of finding them at the house of Mur- 
el's old friend ; and more stimulated with the hope of capturing one 
of the basest of villains, he had lode all day in the cold without ev- 
er thinking of warming. They ha-.i pa-.sed ihe bottom a tew hun- 
dred yards when they came to an old log which was burning by the 
road side, and Mure! proposed to stop and warm. When the young 
stranger attempted to walk to the fire he found himself too numb to 
walk without supporting himself against his beast ; but the fire revi- 
ved him very much. As Murel dropped on his haunches before the 
fire, he observed : 

"Twelve miles to my old friends ; and you my young friend are 
very cold indeed : I fear you are frosted ! you cannot stand it like me : 
I have suflfered enough to kill a horse. We will warm until the queen 
of the night blesses us with her silver beams, which will light us to a 
more hospitable lodging. Did you ever travel much by moon light ? 

S. Not much, sir. 

M. Then you have not the same love for her silver beams as an 
old vetei-an in mysteries. I would suppose that you are too young 
to be of much experience in the practical part, though you are well 
skilled in the theory, but you will find many difficulties to surmount 
in the execution of plans which you have never thought of; you will 
learn to suffer privations of all kinds, to the greatest extent. These 
privations and difficulties, when surmounted, are what constitutes 
the glory of an old veteran and prominent actor." ^ 



CHAPTER III. 



Murel and the young stranger had enjoyed the warmth of the fire 
at the old log for near half an hour in conversation, and exchanging 
ideas and sentiments on the justification of acts of villainy, and the 
prospects of a course of that kind. When the moon began to make 
the sleet glisten on the surrounding trees, they mounted their horses 
and started. It was like a new scene to the young stranger, and 
produced a damp on his feelings which he had never before felt. — • 
To reflect that he w-as then alone wnth one of the most desperate 
men in the world, who cared for neither God or devil, and knew no 
law but his own rapacious will. These reflections had set his whole 
imagination to work, and he began to reflect, and think of the dan- 
ger there would be in goiiig with Murel to where the negroes were, 
for they would know him ; and Murel and his friend would murder 
him before he could get any assistance. He had one elegant pistol^ 
and he concluded to trust himself in the hands of Providence, and 
try to fight his way through. To have broken off" then, under so fa- 
vorable prospects of victory, wowld have been cowardly and unwor* 



IS 

thy, when compared with the management of the day. The justice 
of his cause braced his nerves, and before he had rode far he was 
recovered of all bad feeling, and in a high chat with his apparent un- 
known companion. 

The young stranger was determined not to ride before, so as to 
give Murel the opportunity of sliooting him, when he could not know 
it, for he could have no confidence in the smiles of so depraved a 
creature as Murel — so he rode just behind him. 

Murel. Come, sir, ride up, the night is cold and we have far to 
go, and we had as well pass the time as lively as possible ; come 
up, and I will tell you another feat of this elder brother, whom I was 
telling you of 

Stranger. Yes, sir, with all my heart, if it is as good as the last. 

Tfl. He is a d d likely fellow, tall and well proportioned, and 

dresses rather in the Methodist order, and when he is off on his 
scouts directing his men how to proceed, (for he never carries off 
property himself, he always has men for that purpose,) he frequently 
makes appointments and preaches. He is well versed in the scrip- 
lures, and preaches some splendid sermons. He has frequently 
preached at a place, and before he commenced, pointed out some 
fine horse for his friend to steal ; and while he was preaching and 
praying for them, his friend would save the horse for him. He al- 
ways gives his residence some other course than the correct direc- 
tion. In one of those jaunts he called at the house of one Nobs, a 
Methodist, on Elk river, in Middle Tennessee. Nobs had heard him 
preach a year before in that neighborhood, and was much taken 
with him as a preacher. He had given his residence in South Ala- 
bama, and had spoken a great deal of his negroes and farm ; and of 
the perplexity he had in getting an overseer that would do his duty, 
and not abuse his slaves, and all such stuff as this, and brother Nobs 
drank it all down ; supper came on, and he got them all around the 
table on their feet ; he raised his hands in the most solemn manner, 
as though he was just going to open the windows of heaven, and 
select its richest blessings for brother Nobs, his wife, and latest pos- 
terity. He was lengthy in his supplications at the table ; but when 
he came to use the books, and go to duty, he was eloquent ; the same 
service was rendered next morning. 

When about to start, he wanted to pay brother Nobs : but brother 
Nobs was almost hurt to think that he would suppose that he would 
charge him. "Well, brother Nobs, will you be so good as to give me 
change for a twenty dollar bill ? I am out of change, and I dislike 
to offer a bill of that size for to be changed where I stay all night, 
for the world will say he is a preacher and does not like to pay for 
staying all night at a tavern — see he has presented a twenty dollar 
bill to be changed. This is the way of the world — and I hope God, 
in his mercies, will enable me to live in such a manner as never to 
dishonor the cause of the Gospel, or degrade the ministry." 

Brother Nobs, anxious to render the preacher, and as he thought a 



17 

very rich man, a favor, answered him — "yes brother, with pleas- 
ure." He ran to his wife and got the keys, took out his purse, and 
counted out seventeen dollars and fifty cents, when his change gave 
out. Brother Nobs was in a peck of misery. "Stay a little, I will 
run over to brother Parker's and borrow the balance." "Do, if you 
please ; and I will stay here with sister Nobs until you return."—* 
Brother Nobs was not long gone when he returned, with as much 
pride of being able to accommodate his preacher as an East India 
Merchant would show at the arrival of a rich cargo of goods. The 
preacher's bill is changed and all is right. 

P. Well brother Nobs, you have a fine young Jack — did you 
raise him ? 

Br, N. He was foaled mine, and I have raised him^ 

P. Will you trade him, brother Nobs ? 

Br. N. I raised him for that purpose ; but I cannot get the worth 
of him in this country ; I have never been offered more than $160 
for him, and he is worth $250. 

P, Yes, brother Nobs, he is cheap at that price ; and if I had theS 
money with me, I would rid you of any further trouble with him at 
that price. 

Br. N. Well, brother, you can take him. You say that you will 
be at our camp-meeting : Bring the money then — that is as soon aa 
I will need it. 

P. Well, brother Nobs, I will take him — I need him very much : 
I want him for my own mares : I am a domestic fellow, I raise my 
own mules for my farm. 

The trade being completed, the preacher got ready to start ; all 
the family gathered around him to receive his parting blessing. 

P. Brother Nobs, may the Lord bless yoUj and save you in 
heaven, farewell. Sister Nobs, may the grace of our Lord and Sa- 
viour Jesus Christ, rest and remain upon you ; farewell. May the 
Lord bless your little children ; farewell, my dear babies. 

The preacher was soon gone from brother Nobs ; but not to 
South Alabama ; but to the western district of Tennessee. That 
day and night put the preacher a long ways off, as slow as his Jack 
travelled ; though he was an uncommon fine travelling Jack. The 
preacher sold his Jack for four hundred dollars, and passed a twenty 
dollar counterfeit bill on brother Nobs. Poor brother Nobs can 
never hear of his rich young preacher since ; but I have no doubt 
but he is on a voyage of soul-saving ; and will visit brother Nobs 
when he returns. 

S. It would be a source of the highest pleasure to me, to see and 
become acquainted with this wonderous man ; my fancy has made 
him a princely fellow. Perhaps I have been too extravagant in my 
conceptions ; but I know he must be a great man, possessed of un- 
rivalled mental powers. 

M. That is his characterj sir^ 

S. 1 do not wonder at his being a terror to his enemies, neither 

3 



18 

am I astonished that he should be beloved by his clan. Such a lea- 
der should be loved and adored by his party ; for talents and capa- 
city should be honored wherever it is ihund. I must confess, that 
vv^hat I have heard of this man alone of itself, has excited my admi- 
ration ; but perhaps it is because we are congenial spirits. Sir, if I 
live in hell, I will fight for the devil. 

M. Well, sir, we are within three miles of my old friends ; ride 
up and we will soon be there. Will you go as far down as Ran- 
dolph ? your horse may have got down in that region. 

S. It is likely that I will, sir; and if I was not rather scarce of 
change, I would continue my journey over into Arkansaw, as cold 
as it is, as long as I am this near to it. I have heard much of that 
country, and I think the land and people would suit my designs and 
inclinations very much. The land east of the Mississippi river is 
nearly all entered and is very dear. 

Here the young stranger was fishing for Murel's designs and in- 
tentions ; as he wished to learn whether Murel intended to go any 
farther than to his old friends or not ; and he wished to leave the im- 
pression on the mind of Murel, that he was scarce of money, as he 
had a considerable amount with him. lie calculated that if the ne- 
groes were not at Murel's old friend's, that Murel would continue 
his journey ; but this was a matter he had to learn without a direct 
question, as being too inquisitive would be very dangerous with so 
shrewd a fellow. He thought the best plan was to seem, as though 
he seemed not to seem ; — and the stranger was anxious to know 
whether the time was at hand for him to fight or not. 

M. I would be very glad if you would go over to Arkansaw with 
me. I am going over, and I will let you have money if you get 
out ; and I will show you the country as long as you wish to stay. 
I have thousands of friends over there — it will not cost one cent, if 
we stay six months ; and by God, I will carry you where you can 
bring away a d d sight better horse than the one you are hunt- 
ing — D n the horse, let him go to hell — I will learn you a few 

tricks, if you will go with me. A man with as keen an eye as you, 
should never spend his time hunting after a d d horse. 

S. Sir, I am much obliged to you for your compliment and much 
more obliged to you for the kind proposition which you have made 
— I will determine to-morrow whethei- I will go or not ; but I think 
I will go. . I have no doubt but I shouki learn many things under 
so able a teacher, as I suspect you are ; and I should be happy to 
accompany you. 

M. Here is my old friend's — I am glad to se his cabin once more. 
Come, alight, everything is still — we will go into the house. 

The midnight visitors knocked for admittance. The old man was 
not gone to bed : but all was still as death ; they entered the house, 
and were received very friendly ; but the young stranger's eyes 
flew round to catch a glimpse of the good old Parson's negroes; 
but he was disappointed, for they wore not there. The young 



19 

stranger being very much fatigued, he got a bed, as soon as he was 
warm, and went to rest; and left Murel and his old friend convers- 
ing. The young stranger's mind could not rest in this marvellous 
situation, for he did not know but the negroes w^ere in some other 
building on the place ; but at length he dropped into a sound slum- 
ber. Thus ended the stranger's first day's pilgrimage with the great 
Western Land Pirate. 



CHARTER IV. 



The young stranger was out of bed very early the next morning, 
and as soon as he could see, he was looking for the old Parson's ne- 
groes ; but he could see nothing of them. Murel rose very early, 
and had the horses caught and saddled, ready for a start by clear day 
light. The young stranger was very particular in inquiring after a 
stray horse, of Murel's old friend, while in the presence of Murel. 
They mounted their horses and proceeded towards Wesley, a vil- 
lage in Haywood county, State of Tennessee, six miles from their 
late landlord's. After they started, and rode a short distance, Murel 
remarked to the stranger: 

M. Well, my young friend, I believe I have not been so inquis- 
itive as to learn your name, as yet, we have been so engaged in oth- 
er conversation. 

S. No, sir, we have been quite engaged since our short acquain- 
tance ; I seldom ever have a name, though you may call me Adam 
Hues at present. 

The young stranger did not give his real name, as he was fearful 
that his name would remind Murel of him, should he ever have no- 
ticed him in company at any place of public gathering ; this he did 
not know ; and he thought the best plan was to be cautious ; this 
deception subjected him to many difficulties afterwards, as he had 
to pass some of his acquaintances on the way. 

M. Well, Mr. Hues, what say you of the trip to Arkansaw this 
morning ? 

Hues. I have not fairly determined on that matter, though I 
think I will go. 

M. Go, yes, d — n it you must go, and I will make a man of you. 

H. That is what I want, sir. 

M. There is some of the handsomest girls over there you ever 
saw. I am in town when I am there. 

H. Nothing to object to, sir ; I am quite partial to handsome la- 
dies. 

M. Oh ! well, go with me to Arkansaw, and d — n me if I do 



20 

not put you riglit in town, and they are as plump as ever come over, 
sir. 

H. I think I will go, sir ; I will determine down about Wesley, 
which your old friend says is five or six miles. 

M. D d if we cannot strike a breeze worth telling over 

there. 

H. I do not doubt it, sir. 

M. I will tell you a story, about another feat of this elder broth- 
er. His younger brother was living in Tipton county, below here, 
and he was down to see him — and while he was in the neighborhood, 
he decoyed off a negro man from his master, and appointed a place 
where to meet him, but instead of going himself, he sent a friend. — 
His friend conveyed him to the Mississippi river, where there was a 
skiff to receive them ; his friend conducted the boy to Natchez in the 
skiff, and lodged him in the care of a second friend. 

He took a passage on a Steam Boat for Natchez, after he had 
lurked behind until he could learn all their movements ; after he 
reached Natchez, he took his negro and went on another Steam Boat, 
dressed like a lord, and had as much the appearance of a gentle- 
man, as any man on board the Boat. He had taken a passage to 
New Orleans ; but d — n it, misfortunes will happen every once and 

a while. There was a d d fellow aboard the boat who knew 

him well ; and this d d rascal went to the Captain and told him 

that the negro which the fellow had, was stolen ; and that the fellow 
was a notorious negro thief — and that he had better take the black 
boy into custody, and carry him back, and that he would be very 
apt to find his owner's advertisements, as he went back up the coun- 
try. The Captain, a d d old villain, in hopes of getting a re- 
ward, and the services of the negro for some time, concluded to do 
so. The negro was not suffered to see his master ; but he had been 
drilled to his business before. So the fellow waited until the boat 
reached New Orleans ; and while the boat was landing, he made 
his escape on the guards of another boat. He went in search of his 
friends, in that part of the country, who were plenty, and made all 
of his arrangements ; and sent a friend to learn when the Captain 
would leave the port ; so he goes to the Mayor of the city, and 
gets a process against the body of the Captain, for unlawfully de- 
taining his property from his possession. The guard took him, just 
as he was preparing to start his boat, and him and the negro were 
both taken before the Mayor. He charged the Captain with having 
detained his property from his possession by violence and force of 
arms ; and produced a bill of sale for the negro, purporting to have 
been given in Tipton county. State of Tennessee, and brought in a 
witness, (one of his friends.) who swore that he was present when 
the negro was purchased, and saw him delivered to the plaintiff. — 
The Mayor asked the Captain the cause of his detaining the negro 
from his master. 



21 

Captain. Why, why, I, I, was told that this man was a negro 
thief, sir. 

Mayor. Have you any evidence ? 

C. Why — I don't know where the man is who told me. He is 
gone, sir. 

M. What was you going to do with his negro ? 

C. Why — I, I, was going to keep him, sir. 

M. Keep him ? 

C. Yes, sir, I'd keep him safe. 

M. Yes, sir, 1 will keep you safe a while. 

The negro was delivered to the plaintiff and the Captain nicked 

with a heavy fine, and imprisoned ; and his d d pretty friend, 

who knew so much, soon had a nurse that attended to his case, day 
and night, until he found his way to the bottom of the Mississippi 
river, and his guts made into fish bait. This was the way he fixed 

these two d d villains, for their smartness in matters that did not 

concern them. He waited until the Captain was just ready to start ; 
and by his never coming about, the Captain thought he had made his 
escape, and that he was proud to get a chance to run, so he had no 
chance to make any defence, and New Orleans is a rnmute place. 

He sold his negro in New Orleans for eight hundred dollars ; and 
in a few nights he stole him again, and got a friend to conduct him 
up the country to a friend's house in one of the upper parishes. — 
Here he became a Methodist preacher, and preached like hell for a 

neighborhood of Methodists. He had got two d d fine geldings 

near New Orleans, and his friend rode one and his negro the other ; 
while he was preaching and praying for the Methodists, he told them 
that he had been down to the lower country, to sell his slaves ; that 
he had become rather conscientious on the subject of slavery, but 
that the boy he had with him appeared to be so much opposed to be- 
ing sold, that he had concluded to carry him back home again ; but 
the negro was up to this, and he began to pretend to love one of 
Hiccombatan's negro women, and he began to beg massa Hicconri^ 
batan to buy him. Brother Hiccombatan purchased his preacher's 
negro, and the preacher started home to Kentucky, an assumed res- 
idence. Brother Hiccombatan gave him seven hundred dollars for 
his boy. He had a friend to convey the ijoy across the Mississippi 
river, near the mouth of the Arkansaw^ i-iver, where he was to meet 
him at the house of a friend. Brother Hiccombatan is greatly dis- 
tressed : his boy is gone, who was sold for loving his negro woman } 
and his preacher gone with his money. He stove about in every 
direction like a mad bull ; but all was in vain, his negro was gone. 
The preacher was prompt to attend at the house of his appointed 
friend, where he met his companion with the negro. He sold him 
the third time on Arkansaw river for five hundred dollars ; and then 
stole him and delivered him into the hands of his friend, who con- 
ducted him to a swamp, and veiled the tragic scene, and got the last 
gleanings and sacred pledge of secrecy ; as a game of that kind will 



22 

not do unless it ends in a mystery to all but the fraternity. He sold 
that negro for two thousand dollars, and then put him forever out of 
the reach of all pursuers ; and they can never graze him, unless they 
can find the negro ; and that they cannot do, fur his carcass has fed 
many a lortois and cat fish bclbre this lime, and the frogs have sung 
this many a long day to the silent repose of his skeleton ; and his 
remembrance is recorded in the book of mysteries. Thus ended 
the history of the Tipton boy, and brother Hiccombatan's parson, 
Avho vanished like a sjiirit, to the land of mystics. 

II. Wonderful and strange man, ^vho can tell the worth of such 
a noble leader ; he is great and wise in all things. 

M. That is his character, sir. Well, sir, we arc within a half 
mile of AVesley, and we will have a warm when we get there. 

II. Yes sir, we need it very much, and we will have some good 
brandy and something to eat at the tavern. 

M. We will get the brandy, but I have lots of provisions in my 
portmanteau. 

Here Hues began to plan how to pass through Wesley, without be- 
ing detected by Murel, for he had three acquaintances in that place, 
whom he knew would speak to him, at any distance they could see 
him ; and that would divulge his proper name — and appear suspi- 
cious to Murel, for Murel believed him in a country where he knew 
no person ; and in all probability, one of them would begin to en- 
quire about his friends in Madison county, who lived within five 
miles of Murel's house, which would have upset the whole matter in 
one moment, for it would have cxplamed all things to the ready and 
quick understanding of Murel. lie laid his plans as follows : He 
concluded to use his assumed character of horse hunter, in this diffi- 
culty, and endeavor to see them while by himself, (from Murel,) if 
possible ; and apprize them of his business and plan : so when they 
come in sight of the village, Hues handed Murel a flask and told 
him that as he was acquainted in the place that he must get the 
liquor ; and that he would stop at some store, and write a few ad- 
vertisements for his horse — as he had concluded to go to Arkansaw 
with him — and that the horse might be heard of by the time they re- 
turned, 

H. Is that sign the tavern, sir ? 

M. Yes, sir, that is the Wesley Inn. We can warm there, and 
I expect you can do your writing there. I will see the fire the first 
thing I do. Do your writing quick, and come on to the tavern. 

This suited Hues very well, for two of his acquaintances were at 
the tavern, and he stopped opposite the first store house they came 
to, and while Murel was at the tavern, Hues went to the groceiy to 
see his other friend who kept the only liquor in the place, but his 
friend was not at home — so he apprehended no fears from him, un- 
less he should meet him coming in, as they were leaving the place. 
Hues fell back behind some palings, and watched the door of the 
tavern, until he saw Murel leave the tavern, and go to the grocery for 



23 

the liquor. He then %valked on to the tavern, and took Col. Bailus 
into a back room, and apprized him of his designs. The Col. pass- 
ed him as a stranger while in the presence of Murcl ; though while 
they were in the back room, the Col. loaned Hues an elegant pistol, 
to defend himself against any violent attack from Murel and his 
clan, provided he should come up with the Parson's negroes. Murel 
came in with his liquor and gave his friend Hues a dram, and insist- 
ed on their starting. Hues was prepared to be off, and they mount- 
ed their horses, and directed their course for Randolph. They had 
rode a mile from Wesley,- when IMurel observed to Hues — "Come 
Hues, we will ride out from the road, and eat some cold victuals 
and take a little more of the God bless us." Murel turned from the 
road and Hues followed after him; after Hues had gone after him 
fifty yards into the woods, he asked Murel why he was going so far 

from the read. Miirel replied, that the d d old Methodist whom 

he had been telling him of, knowing him to be a particular friend of 
these two young m^n, he should not be surprised, if young Henning 
was to follow him ; and if he did, that he would rather have Hen- 
ning before than behind him ; if he was d d fool enough to try 

it : as he would know better how to manage him. Murel continued 
on about one hundred yards, and stopped by the side of an old log, 
and hitched his horse, and then opened his provisions and spread 
them on the log, and set the flask by them : and invited Hues to help 
himself to what he could find on the rough table before him. They 
both took another good horn from the flask, and commenced hiding 
bread and bacon ham. 

M. Well Hues, I will be d d if I can't put you in better bu- 
siness than trading with the Indians. 

H. I have no doubt of that, sir. 

M. Did you ever hear of those devils, Murels, up in Madison 
county, in this State ? 

H. I am an entire stranger to them, sir. 

M. I am that elder brother whom 1 have been telling you of. 

H. Is it possible I have the pleasure of standing before the illus- 
trious personage, of whom I have heard so many noble feats, and 
whose dexterity and skill in performance arc unrivalled by any the 
world has ever produced before him ; is it a dream or is it reality ? 
I scarce can believe that it is a man in real life who stands before 
me ! My imagination would fancy, and make you the genius of 
some master spirit of ancient days, who is sent as a guide, to pro- 
tect and defend me, before all which may oppose. Sir, under the 
protection of so able a guide, and proprietor, I have nothing to fear j 
but look back to the hour of our meeting, as the fortunate era, when 
my importance and victories were to commence. 

M. Sir, I pledge you my head that I will give you all the in- 
struction which my long experience will enable me to give you ; and 
I flatter myself that I shall never be ashamed of the progress of so 
very intelligent a pupil. Sir, I am the leader of a noble band of 



S4 

valiant and lordly banditti ; I will give you our plans and strength 
hereafter, and will introduce you among my fellows, and give you all 
their nanies and residences before we part ; but we must not be 
parted longer than you can arrange your business ; and I will make 
you a splendid fellow, and put you on the high road to fortune. 

You shall be admitted into the grand councils of our clan ; for I 
consider you a young man of splendid abilities. Sir, these are my 
feelings and sentiments towards you. 

Hues and his experienced preceptor had no sooner finished their 
repast at the old log, than they mounted their horses and set out on 
their journey for Arkansaw. Murel now informed his friend Hues, 
that they would leave the public road, and travel a by-way which he 
was well acquainted with ; and by that means, if the old Parson 
should have any person following after him, they would loose his 
track : as he was going to where he had sent the Parson's negroes 
by a friend, and that he was very anxious to get there, as the time 
was past by several days that he was to have met them ; but owing 
to the suspicions of the old Parson, he had delayed time : and that 
his friend would not understand the matter and become alarmed ; 
and he insisted on travelling all the ensuing night. 

Murel now commences to tell how he had managed to prevent 
young Henning from following him, and repeated over the letter 
which he had sent him from Denmark, desiring Henning to accom- 
pany him to Randolph. Murel raised his hand and swore, that he 
could take young Henning with him, and sell every negro he had, 
and that he might stand by his side all the time, and know nothing 
about it when he was done and had received his money ; and said 
he had never intended to disturb his close neighbors until they com- 
menced their sharp shooting at him. "But now d — n them, they 
may look out for breakers, for I have commenced my operations on 
them, and when I quit them they will not be quite so consequential 
as they now are. Their long prayers and Methodist coats will not 
save tliem from my sworn vengeance, neither will they bring back 
their negroes when they once get into my clutches." Hues sanction- 
ed all that Murel said, and contended, that he was justifiable in all 
the injury which he could do them. Hues studied to represent him- 
self as congenial to Murel's disposition as he possibly could, in eve- 
ry thing that was advanced by him. 

The conversation turned on their future prospects of gain, and 
the proficiency of Murel, in the execution of his plans ; and Murel 
to satisfy his young pupil, that he was not misrepresenting his pow- 
ers in villainy, proposed to Hues, that he would decoy the first negro 
they met on the way ; and make him agree to leave his master, and 
go with him. Hues anxious to see by what means he was so suc- 
cessful in his attempts, desired him to do so. They had not travel- 
led more than six miles from the place where they had stopped to 
eat, when they saw an old negro at a crib by the road side, preparing 
logo to mill with a sack of corn: his master had moved his build- 



25 

ings near a half mile from the road, and had left his crib standing at 
the old situation. The old man was alone, and Murel thus accosted 
him. 

Murel. "Well, old man, you must have a d d hard master, or 

he would not send you to mill this cold day. 

Negro. Yes, maser, all on um hard in dis country. 

M. Why do you stay with the d d villain, then ? when he 

treats you like a d d dog I 

N. I can't help um, maser. 

M. Would you help it if you could ? 

N. O ! yes, maser, dat I would. 

M' What is your name old man? 

N. My name Clitto, maser. 

M. Well, Clitto, would you like to be free and have plenty ot 
money to buy land and horses, and every thing you want ? 

C O ! yes, maser, dat Clitto do so want em. 

M. If I will steal you, and carry you off, and sell you four or 
five times : and give you half of the money, and then leave you in a 
free State, will you go ? 

C. O 1 yes maser; Clitto go quick. 

M. Well, Clitto, don't you want a dram, taking out his flask of 
liquor, and offering it to Clitto. 

C. Thankey, maser, arter you. 
' M. Oh ! no, Clitto, after you, (Clitto drinks, and then Murel af- 
ter him.) 

M. Well, Clitto, have you no boys that you would like to see 
free ? 

C. O ! yes, maser. 

M. Now, Clitto, if you was to hear a pistol fire at the head of 
the lane some night, do you thmk you will be sure to come to me, 
and bring three or four boys with you ? 
C O ! yes, maser, Clitto come dis night. 

M. I am in a hurry now, Clitto, and cannot cany you off at this 
time ; but you have the boys ready, and you shall not be with your 

d d old task master much longer, to be cuffed about like a dog. 

I am a great friend to black people. I have carried off a great ma- 
ny, and they are doing well, all got homes of their own ; and mak- 
ing properly ; you look out, and when you hear the pistol fire, come 
with the boys, and I will have horses ready to push you. Good by, 
Clitto, until I see you again." 

Thus ended the dialogue between Murel and Clitto, Hues enjoy- 
ed the scene very much, and was much astonished at the, success of 
Murel, in his persuasions, and base address in villainy. 

Hues applauded the splendid success of his preceptor, and ex- 
pressed the greatest astonishment, at seeing him victorious in so 
short time : — to which Murel replied, that "fifteen minutes are all I 
want to decoy the best of negroes from the best of masters." 
Murel and Hues had exchanged ideas and sentiments on many 

4 



26 

matters ; but Murel had yet to open the splendor of his schemes to 
his young companion ; and he appeared to have an itching to see 
what effect it would have. After they had spent the greater part 
of the second day, JNIurel commenced the grand disclosure of his 
plans, purposes, and designs, as follows. 

Murel. "Hues I will tell you a secret that belongs to my clan, 
which is of more importance than stealing negroes, a shorter way to 
an overgrown fortune, and it is not far ahead. The movements of 
my clan have been as brisk as could have been expected, in that 
matter; things are moving on smooth and easy. But this is a mat- 
ter that is known only by a few of our leading characters. The first 
class keeps all their designs, and the extent of their plans, to them- 
selves. For this reason, all who would be willing to join us, are not 
capable of managing our designs ; aud there would be danger of 
their making disclosures which would lead to the destruction of our 
designs, before they are perfected. This class is what we call the 
grand council. 

The second class arc those whom we trust with nothing only that 
■which they are immediately concerned with. We have them to do 
■what we are not willing to do ourselves. They always stand be- 
tween us and danger. For a few dollars we can get them to run a 
negro or a fine horse to some place where we can go and take pos- 
session of it without any danger ; and there is no danger in this fel- 
low then ; for he has become the offender, and of course, he is bound 
to secrecy. This class is what we term the strikers. We have 
about four hundred of the grand council, and near six hundred and 
fifty strikers. This is our strength as near as I can guess. I will 
give you a list of their names as I promised, before we part. 

The grand object that we have in contemplation, is to excite a re- 
bellion among the negroes, throughout the slave-holding States. — 
Our plan is to manage so as to have it commence eveiy where at 
the same hour. We have set on the 25th of December, 1835, for 
the time to commence our operations. We des'gn having our com- 
panies so stationed over the country, in the vicinity of the banks and 
the large cities, that when the negroes commence their carnage and 
slaughter, we will have detachments to fire the towns, and rob the 
banks, while all is confusion and dismay. The rebellion taking place 
every where ai the same time, every part of the country will be 
engaged in its own defence ; and one part of the country can afford 
no relief to another, until many places will be entirely overrun by 
the negroes, and our pockets replenished from the banks, and the 
desks of rich merchant's houses. It is true that in many places, in 
slave-holding States, the negro population is not strong, and would 
be easily overpowered, but back them with a few resolute leaders 
from our clan, and they will murder thousands, and huddle the re- 
mainder into large bodies, of stationary defence, for their own pres- 
ervation ; and then, in many other places, the black population is 
much the strongest, and under a leader, would overrun the country 



21 

before any steps could be taken to suppress them, if it is managed 
by a proper leader. 

Hues. I cannot see how the matter is let to the negroes, without 
endangering the scheme by a disclosure ; as all the negroes are not 
disposed to see their masters murdered. 

MureK That is very easy done, we work on the proper materi- 
als, we do not go to every negro we see, and tell him that the ne- 
groes intend to rebel on the night of the 25th of December, 1835. — 
We find the most vicious and wicked disposed ones, on large farms: 
and poison their minds by telling them how they are mistreated, and 
that they are entitled to their freedom as much as their masters, and 
that all the wealth of the country is the proceeds of the black peo- 
ple's labor; we remind them of the pomp and splendor of their 
masters, and then refer them to their own degraded situation, and 
tell them that it is power and tyranny which rivets their chains of 
bondage, and not because they are an inferior race of people. We 
tell them that all Europe has abandoned slavery, and that the West 
Indies are all free ; and that they got their freedom by rebelling a 
few times and slaughtering the whiles, and convince them, that if 
they will follow the example of the West India negroes, that they 
will obtain their hberty, and become as much respected as if they 
were white, and that they can marry white women when they are 
all put on a level. In addition to this, get them t» believe, that the 
most of people are in favor of their being U-ee, and that the free 
States, in the United States, would not interfere with the negroes, if 
they were to butcher every white man in the slave-holding States. 

When we are convinced that we have found a blood thirsty devil, 
we swear him to secrecy, and disclose to him the secret ; and con- 
vince him that every other State, and section of country where 
there are any negroes, intend to rebel and slay all the whites they can 
on the night of the 25th of December, 1835; and assure him that 
there are thousands of white men engaged in trying to free them, 
who will die by their sides in battle. We have a long ceremony for 
the oath, which is administered in the presence of a terrific picture, 
painted for the purpose, representing the monster who is to deal with 
him should he prove unfaithful in the engagement he has entered in- 
to. This picture is highly calculated to make a negro true to his 
trust, for they are disposed to be superstitious at best. After we 
swear him, we then instruct him how to proceed : Which is as fol- 
lows : he is to convince his fellow slaves of the injustice of their be- 
ing held in bondage ; and learn the feelings of all he can on the sub- 
ject of a rebellion, by telling them how successful the West India 
negroes have been, in gaining their freedom by frequent rebellions. 

The plan is, to have the negroes hai rowed up against the whites, 
and their minds alive to the idea of being free : aiid let none but 
such as we can trust, know the intention and time of the rebellion, 
until the night it is to commence — when our black emissaries are to 
have gatherings of their fellow slaves, and unite all in their reach, to 



28 . 

attend, with a promise of plenty to drink, which will always call ne- 
groes together. Our emissaries will be furnished with money to 
procure spirits, to give them a few drams ; when our (emissaries 
will open their secret as follows : "Fellow slaves, this is the night 
that we are to obtain our liberty. All the negroes in America rebel 
this night and murder the whites. We have been long subject to the 
whips of our tyrants ; and many of our backs wear the scars ; but 
the time has arrived when we can be revenged. 

There are many good white men who are helping us to gain our 
liberty. All of you that refuse to fight will be put to death ; so 
come on my brave fellows, wc will be free or die." AVe will have 
our men, whom we intend for leaders, ready to head these' compa- 
nies, and encourage the negroes, should they appear backward. — 
Thus you see, that they will be forced to engage, under the belief, 
that the negroes have rebelled every where else, as in their own 
neighborhood, and by those means every gathering or assemblage of 
negroes will be pushed forward even contrary to their inclination. — 
Those strikers will be of great use at the pinch of the game, as 
many of them will do to head companies ; and there will be no dan- 
ger in them, when they are to go immediately to work, and have the 
prospect of wealth before them ; there are many of them who will 
fight like Turks. 

Our black emissaries have the promise of a share in the spoils we 
may gain, and we promise to conduct them to Texas should we be 
defeated, where they will be free ; but we never talk of being de- 
feated. We always talk of victory and wealth to them. There is 
no danger of any man, if you can ever get him once implicated, or 
engaged in a matter. That is the way we employ our strikers in all 
things : we have them implicated before we trust them from our 
sight. 

This may seem too bold to you. Hues ; but that is what I glory 
in. All the crimes I have ever committed, have been of the most 
daring nature ; and I have been successful in all my attempts, as yet ; 
and 1 am confident that I will be victorious in this matter, as to the 
robberies which I have in contemplation ; and I will have the pleas- 
ure and honor of seeing and knowing that my management has 
glutted the earth with more human gore, and destroyed more prop- 
erty than any other robber who has ever lived in America, or the 
known world. I look on the American people as my common en- 
emy. They have disgraced me, and they can do no more : my life 
is nothing to me, and it shall be spent as their devoted enemy. My 
clan is strong, brave, and experienced ; and is rapidly increasing in 
strength every day. I should not be surprised, if it were to be two 
thousand strong by the 2.jth of Decemder, 1835 ; and in addition to 
this, I have the advantage of any other leader of a banditti that has 
ever preceded me, for there is at least one half of my grand coun- 
cil who are men of high standing ; and many of them in honorable 
and lucrative oflices. Should any thing leak out by chance, these 



29 

men would crush it at once, by ridiculing the idea and fears of the 
people. They would soon make it a humbug, cock, tail, and a bull 
story; and all things accounted for, to the satisfaction of the com- 
munity, short order. Hues, how do you suppose that I understood 
your disposition so quick, and drew you out on the subject of spec- 
ulation, so that I could get your sentiments in so short a time after 
we got in company ? 

Hues. That is what I do not understand, and I can only account 
for it, as I would many other of your unrivalled performances, by 
attributing it to your great knowledge and experience of the world, 
and of mankind. 

M. I had not been in company with you more than two hours, 
before I knew you as well as if 1 had made you ; and could have 

trusted my life in your hands ; for d d if I could not see hell 

dance in your eyes. A little practice is all you want, and you can 
look into the very heart and thoughts of a man. 

The art of learning men is nothing, when you once see how it is 
managed. You must commence in this way : Begin to tell of some 
act of villainy, and notice the answers and countenance of the man 
as you go on with your story; and if you discover him to lean a 
little, you advance a little ; but if he recedes, you withdraw, and 
commence some other subject ; and if you have carried the matter 
a little too far before you have learned him, by being too anxious, 
make a jest of it, and pass it off in that way. 

H. 1 cannot see how you will provide the negroes with arms to 
fight with. 

M. We have a considerable amount of money, in the hands of 
our treasurers for the purpose of purchasing arms and ammunition, 
to fit out the companies that are to attack the cities and banks, and 
we will manage to get possession of the difi'erent arsenals, and sup- 
ply ourselves from every source that may ofl'er. We can get, from 
every house we enter, more or less supplies of this kind, until we 
will be well supplied. The negroes that scour the country settle- 
ments will not want many arms until they can get them from the 
houses they destroy, as an axe, a club, or knife, will do to murder a 
family at a late hour in the night, when all are sleeping. There will 
be but little defence made the first night by the country people, as 
all will be confusion and alarm, for the first day or two, until the 
whites can embody. 

The weather was so very cold that Hues began to insist on stop- 
ping until day, as they had rode until a late hour in the night, and 
Hues felt like freezing; but Murel never complained the first time 
of being cold. They stopped at a good looking house, and so soon 
as they were warm, they were lit to their lodgings — the place will 
never be forgot by Hues. It was a large open room, and the bed- 
tick was stuffed with corn shucks, which made as much noise when 
they got in, as riding a new saddle. The covering consisted of a 
thin coverlid, and cotton counterpane. Murel lay and cursed the 



30 

landlord all night, and Hues lay and shivered like he had a hard ague 
until morning. Next morning Murel enquired for the bill — there 
■were twelve pence each, for lodging. "Wiiat !" says Murel, "a 'lev- 
<;n-penny-l)it for riding such a colt us wc rode last night — he has not 

been curried since the day he was foaled ; d d high for lodging 

on the shuck pen. Here is the money, sir. Come, Hues, we will 
be travellmg, 1 am not fond of roughness, although it is winter." 



CHAPTER y. 



Murel and Hues were on the road before sunrise the next morn- 
ing, notwithstanding the disagreeable night they had spent at their 
late landlord's. Murel expressed a great anxiety to reach Arkan- 
saw that night, before he slept. Murel having disclosed his plans to 
his young friend, and as he thought, completely captivated his feel- 
ings and fancy with the prospect of inexhaustible wealth, and view- 
ing him as already entered into participation of his bloody designs, 
proposed to give him a short history of his life, commencing at ten 
years old. 

Murel. I was born in middle Tennessee. My parents had not 
much property ; but they were intelligent people ; and my father 
was an honest man I expect, and tried to raise me honest; but I 
think none the better ot him for that. My mother w'as of the pure 
girt : she learnt me and all her children to steal so soon as we could 
walk, and would hide for us whenever she could. At ten years old 
I was not a bad hand. The first good haul 1 made was from a ped- 
lar who lodged at my father's house one night. I had several trunk 
keys, and in the night 1 unlocked one of his trunks and took a bolt of 
linen and several other things, and then locked the trunk. The ped- 
lar went ofll^ before he discovered the trick ; I thought that was not 
a bad figure I had made. About this time there was some pains ta- 
ken with my education. At the age of sixteen I played a trick on a 
merchant in that country. I walked into his store one day, and he 
spoke to me very polite, and called me by the name of a young man 
who had a rich father, and invited me to trade with him. I thanked 
him, and requested him to put down a bolt of superfine cloth ; I 
took a suit and had it charged to the rich man's son. 

I began to look after larger spoils, and run several fine horses. — 
By the time I was twenty, 1 began to acquire considerable charac- 
ter as a villain, and I concluded to go off and do my speculation 
where I was not known, and go on a larger scale ; so I began to 
see the value of having h-iends in this business. 1 made several as- 
sociates ; I had been acquainted with some old hands for a longtime, 
who had gave me the names of some royal fellows between Nash- 



31 

ville and Tuscaloosa, and between Nashville and Savannah, in the 
State of Georgia, and many other places. Myself and a fellow by 
the name of Crenshaw gathered four good horses, and started for 
Georgia. We g»)t in company with a young South Carolinian just 
before we got to Cumberland mountain, and Crenshaw soon knew 
all about his business. He had been to Tennessee to buy a drove 
of hogs, but when he got there pork was dearer than he had calcu- 
lated, and he declined purchasing. We concluded he was a prize. 
Crenshaw winked at me, I understood his idea. Crenshaw had 
travelled the road before, but I never had ; we had travelled several 
miles on the mountain, when we passed hear a great precipice ; just 
before we passed it Crenshaw asked me for my whip, which had a 
pound of lead in the butt, I handed it to him and he rode up by the 
side of the South Carolinian, and gave him a blow on the side of the 
head and tumbled him from his horse ; we lit from our horses and 
fingered his pockets ; we got twelve hundred and sixty-two dollars. 
Crenshaw said he knew of a place to hide him, and gathered him 
under the arms and me by his feet, and conveyed him to a deep crev- 
ice in the brow of the precipice, and tumbled him into it, he went 
out of sight ; we then tumbled in his saddle, and took his horse with 
us, which was worth two hundred dollars. We turned our course 
for South Alabama, and sold our horses for a good price. We frol- 
icked for a week or more, and was the highest larks you ever saw. 

We commenced sporting and gambling, and lost every d d cent 

of our money. 

We was forced to resort to our profession for a second raise. — 
We stole a negro man and pushed for Mississippi. We had prom- 
ised him that we would conduct him to a free State, if he would let 
us sell him one time, as we went on the way ; we agreed to give 
him part of the money. We sold him for six hundred dollars ; but 
when we went to start, the negro seemed to be very uneasy and ap- 
peared to doubt our coming back for him, as we had promised. — 
We lay in a creek bottom, not far from the place where we had sold 
the negro all the next day, and after dark we went to the china tree, 
in the lane, where we were to meet Tom ; he had been waiting for 
some time. He mounted his horse, and we pushed with him a sec- 
ond time. We rode twenty miles that night to the house of a 
friendly speculator. I had seen him in Tennessee, and had give him 
several lifts. He gave me his place of residence, so I might find 
him when I was passing. He is quite rich, and one of the best kind 
of fellows. Our horses were fed what they would eat, and two of 
them was foundered the next morning. We were detained a few 
days, and during that time our friend went to a little village in the 
neighborhood, and saw the negro advertised, and a description of the 
two men, of whom he had been purchased ; and giving his suspi- 
cions of the men. It was rather squally times, but any port in a 
storm ; we took the negro that night on the bank of a creek which 
runs by the farm of our friend, and Crenshaw shot him through the 



S2 

head. Wc took out his entrails, and sunk him in the creek ; our 
friend furnished us with one fine horse, and we left him our founder- 
ed horses. We made our way through the Choctaw and Chicka- 
saw nations, and then to Williamson county, in this State. We had 
made a d d fine trip, if we had taken care of all we made. 

I had become a considerable libertine, and when I returned home, 
I spent a few months rioting in all the luxuries of forbidden pleas- 
ure with the girls of my ac(iuaintance. 

My stock of cash was soon gone, and j)ut to my shift for more. 
I commenced with horses, and run several from the adjoining coun- 
ties ; I had got associated with a young man who had got to be a 
circuit preaclier among the Methodists, and a sharper he was ; he 
was as slick on the tongue as goose grease. I took my first lessons 
in divinity from this young preacher. lie was highly respected by 
all that knew him, and well calculated -to please ; he first put me in 
the notion of preacliing to aid me in my speculation. 

I got into difficulties about a mare that I had taken, and was im- 
prisoned for near three years. I shifted it from court to court, but I 
was at last found guilty, and whipped. During my confinement I 
read the scrij^tures, and became a good judge of scripture. I had 
not neglected the criminal laws for many years before that time. — 
When they turned me loose I was prepared for any thing ; I want- 
ed to kill all but my own grit ; and one of them I will die by his 
side before I will desert him. 

My next speculation, was in the Choctaw nation. Myself and 
brother stole two fine horses, and made our way mto the Choctaw 
nation. We got in with an old negro man and his wife and three 
sons to go with us to Texas, and promised them that if they would 
work for us one year after we got there, that we would let them go 
free, and told them many fine stories. We got into the Mississippi 
swamp, and was badly bothered to reach the bank of the river. — 
We had turned our horses loose at the edge of the swamp, and let 
them go to hell. After we reached the bank ot the river we were 
in a bad condition, as we had no craft to convey us down the river, 
and our provisions gave out, and our only means for a support was 
killing varments and eating them. Eventually we found an Indian 
trail through the bottom, and we followed it to a bayou that made 
info the river, and we had the pleasure of finding a large canoe lock- 
ed to the bank ; we broke it loose and rowed into the main river, 
and were soon descending the river for New Orleans. 

The old negro man became suspicious that we were going to sell 
them, and became quite contrary. We saw it would not do to have 
him with us ; so we landed one day by the side of an island, and I 
requested him to go with me around the point of the island to hunt 
a good place to catch some fish ; after w^e were obscured from our 
company I shot him through the head, and then ripped open his bel- 
ly and tumbled him into the river ! I returned to my company and 
told them that the old negro had fallen into the river, and that he nev- 



33 

er came up after he went under. We landed fifty miles above New 
Orleans, went into the country and sold our negroes to a Frenchman 
for nineteen hundred dollars. 

We went from where we sold the negroes to New Orleans, and 
dressed ourselves like young lords. I mixed with the loose charac- 
ters of the sivamp every night. One night, as I was returning to the 
tavern where I boarded, I was stopped by two armed men, who de- 
manded my money. I handed them my pocket book, and observed 
that I was very happy to meet with them, as we were all of the 

same profession. One of them observed, "d d if I ever rob a 

brother-chip. We have had our eyes on you and the man that has 
generally come with you, for several nights : we saw so much rig^ 
ging and glittering ]ewelry, that we concluded you must be some 
wealthy dandy, with surplus of cash, and had determined to rid you 
of the trouble of some of it ; but if you are a robber, here is your 
pocket book, and you must go with us to-night, and we will give yoii 
an introduction to several fine fellows of the block — but stop, do 
you understand this motion ?" I answered it, and thanked them for 
their kindness, and turned with them. We went to old mother 
Surgick's and had a real frolic with her girls. That night was the 
commencement of my greatness, in what the world calls villainy. 
The two fellows who robbed me, were named Haines and Phelps ; 
they made me known to all the speculators that visited New Or- 
leans ; and gave me the name of every fellow who would speculate^ 
that lived on the Mississippi river, and many of its tributary streams 
from New Orleans up to all the large western cities. 

I had become acquainted with a Kentuckian, who boarded at the 
same tavern I did, and suspected he had a large sum of money ; I 
felt an inclination to count it for him before I left the city ; so I 
made my notions known to Phelps and my other new comrades, 
and concerted our plan. I was to get him off to the swamp with me 
on a spree, and when we were returning to our lodgings, my friends 
were to meet us and rob us both. I had got very intimate with the 
Kentuckian, and he thought me one of the best fellows in the world* 
He was very fond of wine ; and I had him well fumed with good 
wine before I made the proposition for a frolic. When I invited 
him to walk with me, he readily accepted the invitation. We cut a 
few shines with the girls, and started to the tavern. We were met 
by a band of robbers, and robbed of all our money. The Kentuck- 
ian was so mad, that he cursed the whole city, and wished that it 
would all be deluged in a flood of water, so soon as he left the place. 
I went to my friends the next morning, and got my share of the 
spoil money, and my pocket book that I had been robbed of. We 
got seven hundred and five dollars from the bold Kentuckian, which 
was divided among thirteen of us. 

i commenced travelling and making all the acquaintances among 
the speculators that I could. I went from N ew Orleans to Cincin- 
nati, and from there I visited Lexington, in Kentucky. I found a 

5 



^4 

speculator about four miles from Newport, \vlio funilslicd mc with 
a fine horse, the second night after I arrived at his house. I went 
from Lexington to lliclimond, in Virginia, and from there I visited 
Charleston in the State of South CaroMna ; and fnim thence to 
Millcdgvillc, by the way of Savannah and Augusta, in the State of 
Georgia. I made my way from Milledgvillo to "SVilhamson county, 
the old stamping ground. In all the route I only robbed eleven 

men ; but I preached some d-^ d fine sermons, and scattered some 

counterfeit United States' paper among my brethren. 

The day passed off, and Murel was not through the history of his 
Jife ; though he was hindered in the latter part of the day, by find- 
ing his road, or rather trail, in the Mississippi bottom, impassible from 
high waters. He was compelled to go higher up the river for a 
crossing place. He made several efforts to get on but could not 
succeed. They concluded to stop at a house on the river, until they 
had the light of another day. The landlord where they staid was 
named John Champeon, a character who deserves the confidence of 
his country for his conduct in this matter. Murel soon began to 
feel of Mr. Champeon on the subject of speculation, as he chooses 
to call it, by telling the wonderful tiecds of those two young men of 
Madison county. Here Hues had the jilea'^urc of re-hearing nearly 
the same stories which had constituted the introduction between 
him and Murel ; but Mr. Champeon was not so well prepared to re- 
ceive them as what Hues v.as. The conversation between Murel 
and Mr. Champeon that night, enabled Hues to judge <»f the char- 
acter of Mr. Champeon ; and he needed a man on that occasion, 
in whose hands he could trust the care of his life ; and he found the 
very character he wanted in Mr. Champeon. Murel and Mr. 
Champeon continued their conversation until late bed time, on the 
subject of speculation. Murel made a great many enquiries about 
his clan that lived ah^ng on the river, and wanted to know of Mr. 
Champeon how the Loyds, Barneys, and many others stood, as hon- 
orable men: representing himself as an entire stranger to them, and 
the country they lived in ; and said that his business over among 
them was to collect some money which was owing to him. 

After Murel and Hues were retired to their bed chamber, Murel 
wanted to know of Hues, how he liked the way he had managed 
their landlord? to which Hues replied, that none could have mana- 
ged him better. Murel then informed Hues that they would be 
compelled to leave their horses with Mr. Champeon, and work 
their way through the swamp on foot, until they could get a skifi' to 
convey them to his friends, on the other side of the river; and said 
that they would be dependent on Mr. Champeon, and that he could 
see Mr. Champeon was hell on the speculators : and for that reason 
he had pretended to know nothing about the people on the other 
side of the river, as an acquaintance with them would Ix; good 
grounds for him to suspect them forgoing after no good. Murel 
changed his name to Merel, and gave his residence in Williamson 



35 

county, instead of Madison county, and assumed the character of a 
negro trader, while conversing with Mr. Charnpeon. 

The next morning after breakfast at Mr. Champeon's, Murel and 
Hues started down the bank of the river on foot, to find some per- 
son who had a skiff to hire. After they had gone three hundred 
yards or more, Hues told Murel that he had left his gloves at the 
house, and that it was so cold that he would be compelled to have 
them — so he requested Murel to wait for him until he went after 
them. Murel seated himself on a log, and Hues went back to the 
house. Hues had left his gloves on purpose that he might have an 
excuse to return to the house without the company of Murel. — 
Hues wished to have a private conversation with Mr. Champeon, 
and he knew it would not do to let Murel see him conversing pri- 
vately with any person, as it might excite his suspicion, and get him- 
self into the worst of difficulties, after he would be surrounded by 
Murel's friends, in the wild morass where they were trying to go. — 
Hues apprized Mr. Champeon of his business, and of his adven- 
ture, in as few words as possible ; and gave him his ideas concern- 
ing getting a knowledge where the Parson's negroes were, and then 
getting a guard and going and taking them and the thieves, if he 
could get off from Murel, after being conveyed to the negroes ; or 
so near them, that he could find the place after he had got a guard 
to assist him. Hues wished to learn the place where the negroes 
Were, without seeing them, or rather being seen by them, as they 
would know him, and make his true name known to Murel and his 
friends ; and he considered such adevelopement would be very dan- 
gerous in so unfriendly a place. Mr. Champeon assured Hues that 
he should have all the assistance which it was in his power to give ; 
and told him that he would collect fifty men, if he could make any 
discoveries whore the negroes were. Mr. Champeon cautioned 
Hues of the great danger which he was then going to encounter in 
his adventure ; and gave him an elegant pocket pistol. Hues then 
had three good pistols to defend himself: provided he should be car- 
ried to the Parson's negroes, and discovered before he could get off. 
His plan was to take the advantage, and get the first shot, should he 
be discovered as a spy ; and in that way make his three pistols sup- 
ply the place of men, should he have an equal number to contend 
with ; which he was compelled to look for. When Hues was dis- 
closmg his adventure to Mr. Champeon, he evidently showed that 
he was alarmed ; and he has since declared, that he felt more of 
the effects of fear, in that matter, than he ever had in all his life 
before. It was the idea of placing his life in the hands of a man 
whom he had never seen until the night before, that caused his fears ; 
for he well knew, that if the man was not an honest man, or had the 
least friendship for villainy, he would apprize the friends of Murel 
of the character he had in company, and give them a chance to 
devise any means for the destruction of both his life and character, 
as none of his friends knew the course he was pursuing with Murel ; 



36 

but Hues was not mistaken in the notions he had formed of Mr. 
Chanipeon. Hues gave Mr. Champeon his real name, and reques- 
ted him not to let Murel's horse go if he sent for him, until he first 
knew that there was no accident happened to him, from Murel and 
his clan ; and Hues further instructed Mr. Champeon, if Murel re- 
turned for his horse, and he was not Avilh iiini, to take Murel imme- 
diately, as that would be evidence sufficient, that he was murdered 
or detained by the clan. Mr. Champeon promised to attend to all 
of his requests. Hues was not willmg for Murel to escape justice 
any longer. He had heard him recount the black deeds of his life, 
until his blood had frequently chilled, and his heart sickened to hear 
his horrid deeds and purposes related. He was devotedly disposed 
to hazard his own life to the greatest dangers to accomplish the cap- 
ture of so obdurate a villain, whose only study, and purpose of life, 
was the destruction of the human family, and their property. 

Hues returned to Murel, where he was seated on the log at the 
bank of the river, and they proceeeed on their journey ; after con- 
siderable toil and difficulty, they succeeded in crossing the slues, and 
reached the house of a Mr. Irvin, three miles below Mr. Champe- 
on's, but the skiff that Mr. Irvin had been using was sent home, 
three miles below Mr. Irvin's and there was a lake between them ; 
so they were compelled to stop for the want of a craft. They con- 
cluded to wait a day or two, and see if a trading boat would pass, 
that would convey them down the river to where the skiff was. — 
Murel and Hues were prevented from conversing very much at Mr. 
Irvin's, as he had no private room. They remained at Mr. Irvin's 
until the next evening, when a small trading boat landed, on which 
they got a passage down the river to where the skiff was. During 
the time they were at Mr. Irvin's, Murel was feeling Mr. Irvin on 
the subject of speculation, in the same way he did Mr. Champeon, 
and represented himself as a negro trader. He was so smooth on 
the tongue that Mr. Irvin believed every word he said ; and even 
proposed to purchase three negro men from Mr. Merel as he called 
himself. 

Mr. Merelwas to deliver Mr. Irvin three likely negro men, in 
three weeks, at six hundred dollars each. Mr. Champeon had re- 
commended Mr. Irvin to Hues, as a man whom he might depend on 
in any matter whatever ; and after all their bargain was made, as 
far as it could be made until the delivery of the negroes, Hues made 
a chance to have a private conversation with Mr. Irvin, and ac- 
quainted him with his adventure ; and solicited his assistance, pro- 
vided he should need it, which was readily j)romised by Mr. Irvin. 

Hues had a blank book in his pocket, which he would tear into 
small pieces, on which he kept a journal of Murel's confessions, 
plans, designs and life, as he related it himself. He tore the paper 
mto small pie ces not larger than a dollar. This he done to avoid 
suspicion on the part of Murel ; as if he had seen Hues writing in a 
book he would have suspected him for making a record, which 



37 

would have been very apt to have produced bad conseqnences oil 
the part of Hues and his adventure. Hues would frequently write 
proper names and places on his boot legs, finger nails, saddle skirts, 
and portmanteau, with a needle, as he would be riding and listening 
to Murel's horrid account of himself. Tnis he done to aid his mem- 
ory when he come to commit it to paper. When he would fill both 
sides of one of his scraps of paper, he numbered and stowed it 
away in the crown of his cap. He wrote his journal in stenogra- 
phy. While Murel and Hues was at the house of Mr. Irvin, Hues 
had an opportunity of walking out and arranging memorandums in 
such order as could be understood. In this cautious manner Hues 
succeeded in retaining a correct journal of all that occurred, while 
on the disagreeable and dangerous travels with John A. Murel, the 
great Western Land Pirate. 

Murel and Hues landed at the house of a Mr. Hargues : where 
they got the promise of a skiff" the next morning ; but the next mor- 
ning brought with it a snow storm, which detained them all the day, 
and until the next morning ; making in all better than three days they 
were detained in travelling six miles. Murel became very impa- 
tient, and would swear that the devil had quit cutting his cards for 

him ; that the d d old preacher's negroes had cost him more 

trouble and perplexity of mind, than any he had ever stolen in all 
his life. When Murel and Hues would be walking on the bank of 
the river, Murel would frequently wonder where young Henning 
was, and say that he would give five hundred dollars to find him 
over in Arkansaw hunting him ; and would tell how he would have 
him tortured by his clan. He told Hues that Henning had been so 
oflHicious, and had let his tongue run so much about him and his broth- 
er, that he was not satisfied with stealing his negroes alone, but that 
he had got one of his clan to head a company of friends that intend- 
ed to go to young Henning's house some night, and take him out of 
his bed and give him two hundred and fifty lashes ; and as he knew 
that they would suspect him for it, he mtended to stay at a tavern in 
Jackson on the night it would take place. He said that the man on 
whom he had pitched for a leader of the company was named Eli 
Chandler, a second Ciesar. Hues would scarcely be able to contain 
himself when he would hear Murel telling how he would beat his 
young friend. 

Murel and Hues were ready for a start from Mr. Hargues' the 
second morning after breakfast, having been detained one day and 
night longer in consequence of the snow storm. They landed on 
the Arkansaw side, and then Murel led the way through the swamp 
for the council house. They had travelled three hours in the bot- 
tom, part of the way on foot, and part in skiffs, and had passed sev- 
eral small huts in the canebrakes on the way, which were occupied 
by men and sometimes by negroes : When Murel pointed to a 
large cotton tree which stood in towering height, and stupendous 
size, over all the other timber around it, and said to Hues, "do you 



88 

sec yon lofty cotton wood that rises so majestically over all the oth- 
er timber?" Hues replied that he did. "VVell," said INIurel, "that 
tree stands in the garden of Eden, and we only have a quarter of a 
mile to go, and then we will he on the happy spot, where many a 
noble plot has been concerted." Hues had been expecting to come 
to the hut where the Parson's negroes were secreted in this wild 
morass, and had niullled his face in his handkerchief as if his face 
was cold, but it was to prevent the negroes fi-oni knowing him, pro- 
vided he should come on them. They arrived at the council house 
and found eleven of the clan who had come in for a supply of coun- 
terfeit money, and to learn how each other were managing the 
concerns oF the clan, and whether any brothers were imprisoned, 
and needed the assistance of the clan to relieve them ; and how 
many proselytes each member had made ready for admittance. — 
Hues felt a considerable damp come over him as he entered the 
horrid hovel at the back of Mnrel. The clan was very anxious to 
know the reason why Murel had not attended at the council house 
at the time he had promised his striker to meet him. To which 
Murel replied that he was too stronglj' suspected for the very thing 
that he had done to start at the appointed time, and then that he 
was detained by high water. They informed him that his negroes 
had arrived, and that they were badly frost bit, and that they had 
become uneasy about him and thought it best to push them and 
make sales as soon as possible. Compliments and questions being 
over between Murel and his clan, Muiel called the attention of the 
house, and then took Hues by the hand, and presented him to the 
company with the following remarks : "Here my brave counsel- 
lors, this is a counsellor of my own making, and 1 am not ashamed 
of the workmanship. Let Mr. Hues be examined by whom he 
may." They all shook hands with Hues, and then gave him the two 
degrees in signs, which belongs to the two classes. He first recei- 
ved the sign of the striker, and then of the grand counsellor. The 
si<Tns are a particular pressure and flirt of the hand. Hues was 
[)racticed by them until he could give and receive the signs as well 
as any of them. 

Hues was then requested to give them his opinion concerning the 
negro Mar, and what he conceived to be their faith. The following 
is an extract from the address which was delivered them by Hues, 
while in their council house. 

"An extract ff om Adam Hues' Speech in Mystic CounciL 

Gentlemen of the Mystic conspiracy — my age and inexperience 
must plead my excuse before this worthy and experienced congre- 
gation. I am much better qualified to acquiesce in the measures 
and sentiments of others, than to advance principles of my own on 
this important occasion. It has been so recent that I was honored 
with the secrets of this august conspiracy, that I can advance noth- 
ing original, as all my ideas have been received from our honorable 



59 

dictator, and I should deem it presumption in me to offer any 
amendments to the present deep and well arranged plans and pur- 
poses of his majesty. Mj' opinion is, that your plans are entirely 
practicable, under the guidance of our experienced leader. 

As to what I consider to be the faith and principle of this noble 
and loidly band is easily related, and I expect it is correct : as my 
sentiments are modeled by his majesty, and I consider myself noth- 
ing more than a creature of his formation in this noble conspiracy. 
1 consider that the members of this conspiracy are absolved from 
every other power or obligation to either God or man : we found 
ourselves placed in the world, surrounded with every thing needfuJ 
for our comfort and enjoyment : and shall we stand supinely by and 
see others enjoy, and make no provisions for ourselves, because an 
established religious and moral custom, which we neither believe or 
respect, forbids us from choosing the mode of providing. We con- 
sider all that are under the control of our power as our right ; and 
more, we consider man, earth and beast, all as materials subject to 
the enterprise of our power. Turn your attention to the animal 
world ; do we not see the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, 
and the fish in the sea, all in their turns falling a victim to each oth- 
er : and last of all, turn your attention to man, and do we not see 
him falling a victim to his fellow-man ? Yes, sirs, if there is any 
God, these are his laws ; but my noble sirs, we acknowledge no mor- 
al restrictions apart from the fraternity. Yes, my worthy sirs, we 
will live the lords of our own wills, rioting in all the pompous luxu- 
ries which the spoils of our enemies and opposers will afford. 

We are told by history, that Rome lost her liberty by the conspir- 
acy of three Romans on an island of the river Panalious ; and why 
not the conspiracy of four hundred Americans in this morass of the 
Mississippi river, glean the Southern and Western Banks, destroy 
their cities, and slaughter our enemies ? Have we no Cassius to 
scatter the fire-brands of rebellion ; no Lepidus to open his coffers 
of gold : and no Augustus to lead us to battle ? Such a conclusion 
would go to impeach the abilities of our gallant chieftain." 

Murel having some business to arrange with some of his clan who 
were not at the council house, left the company, and he and Hues 
went to the house of G, Barney that evening. Murel made an ar- 
rangement with his friends concerning the negroes he was to bring 
to Mr. Irvin. Murel was to bring the negroes and get his eighteen 
hundred dollars, and the next night his friends were to go over the 
river in a skiff to a certain point, where the negroes were to be pla- 
ced ready for the skiff to carry them from the unfortunate purcha- 
ser to some other market to repeat the fraud. Hues having discov- 
ered that the Parson's negroes were sent off, and that there were 
no further discoveries to be made by his remaining among the rob* 
bers without enquiring to what market they were sent, and that he 
deemed imprudent in that horrid place, as a very small matter 
might lead to suspicion, and examination, which would have been 



40 

certain destruction, as hues had many papers with him which would 
have condemned him before a court of pirates and murderers ; so 
Hues bcwan to plan to get an excuse to return to Mr. Irvin's and 
wait for JNIurel until he was through with the business of the frater- 
nity. Hues made choice of his excuse to urge before Murel, and 
proposed his wishes to hun, but Murel was opposed to his going un- 
til he went himself, and urged many reasons in opposition to his 
wishes. The excuse that Hues made for wishing to return to Mr. 
Irvin's, was to get acquainted with a lady who lived at Mr. Irvin's 
house, which he urged as the best of reasons, and the more he 
thought on the matter, tJic more he was determined to go, for he 
could see no cause why he should continue to hazard his life to so 
many dangers when neither his old friend nor his country were to 
be benefited by so doing. Murel urged that he wanted to see him 
have some sport with the Arkansavv girls before he returned ; and 
that there were several matters before the council, which he wished 
to hear his opinion on. To these wishes of Murel's Hues replied, 
that as to the girls he could dispense with them for the present, un- 
der existing circumstances ; and as to his opinion in council he ho- 
ped to be excused for the present, as he was not prepared to give 
any ideas of his own, and assured Murel that he had the utmost con- 
fidence in his opinion on any matter which might be agitated before 
the house, and prcfei-red it to his own. Murel's vanity being flatter- 
ed by the encomiums passed on his opinions, consented to the ar- 
rangements made by Hues, and saw him safe across the river before 
they parted. 

Hues returned to Mr. Irvin's, and Murel to the business of his 
profession. Hues felt quite relieved to find himself once more 
among honest people, after passing through the hands of so many 
cut-throats, in a morass, which has associated with it all that the 
fancy can select from the whole school of horrors ; and I would say, 
from the description given by Hues, an emblem of that awful place, 
allotted to rebellious and wicked spirits, in the world of misery, and 
its fiendish courts. 

Hues concerted a plan with Mr. Irvin, to have a guard at his 
house at the time Murel was to bring him the negroes, to secure 
Murel and the negroes he might bring with him ; and in that way 
capture the mighty man of the West, as he did not know that his 
confessions would be sufficient evidence against him, and Hues was 
well aware that if the evidence depended entirely on himself, that 
it would be the greatest inducement for so extensive a banditti to 
unite and exert all their power for his destruction, as they would 
know that the fate of their favorite designs and daring leader would 
depend on their success in that matter: for this reason alone. Hues 
was anxious that he should be taken in the act of delivering the ne* 
groes, which he had promised to deliver to Mr. Irvin in three weeks: 
but the marvellous manner in which Hues become master of Mur- 
el's secrets and plans, were another inducement with him, that other 



41 

evidence should be had before Murel was arrested, as that would 
remove the burthen of evidence from himself 

The next evening, after Hues had returned to Mr. Irvin's, Murel 
came ; and after he and Mr. Irvin had talked over their trade about 
the negroes, and fixed on the time when they were to be delivered, 
Murel and Hues returned to Mr. Champeon's that evening, where 
they had left their horses, after being gone six days. Hues had no 
opportunity to have any private conversation with Mr. Champeon 
concerning his adventure, but got an opportunity to hand him the 
pistol which had been giyen to him by Mr. Champeon, before he 
entered the morass. Murel and Hues left Mr. Champeon's the next 
morning after breakfast and directed their course for Madison county. 

Murel began to talk of the bad luck which he M'as having with 
the old Parson's negroes, and Hues for' the first time ventured to ask 
him a direct question, after trying many indirect questions, and fail- 
ing to get the information which he wanted. He then asked Murel 
to what market his friends had sent the negroes, which he had taken 
from the Methodist preacher. To which Murel replied : "They 
have sent my two, and three other fellows, and seven horses, down 
the river, in one of those small trading boats, and they intended to 
go through the Choctaw pass if they could, to the Yazoo market ; 
•and they have ten thousand dollars in counterfeit money, which I 
expect is to upset the whole matter. I am not pleased with the ar- 
rangement. The fellows whom they have sent are only strikers, 

and that is too much to put into their hands at one time. D d if 

I am not fearful they will think themselves made men when they 
sell, and leave us behind in the lurch ; though Loyd says there is no 
danger in them : and he told them to sell and misle."* 

Murel and Hues being once more to themselves on the road, Mur- 
el re-commenced the history of his life as follows : 

Murel. "After I returned home from the first grand circuit I 
made among the specrlators, I remained at home a very short time, 
as I could not rest when my mind was not actively engaged in some 
speculation. I had commenced the foundation of this mystic clan 
on that tour, and suggested the plan of exciting a rebellion among 
the negroes as the sure road to an inexhaustible fortune to all who 
would engage in the expedition. The first mystic sign which is 
used by this clan, was in use among robbers before I was born ; and 
the second had its origin from myself, Phelps, Haines, Cooper, Dor- 
is, Bolton, Harris, Doddridge, Celly, Morris, Walter, Depont, and 
one of my brothers, on the second night after my acquaintance with 
them in New Orleans. We needed a higher order to carry on our 
designs, and we adopted the sign, and called it the sign of the grand 
council of the mystic clan ; and practised ourselves to give and re- 
ceive the new sign to a fraction, before we parted : and in addition 

* The word rnisle, as us^d above, the reader must judo-o of the intended mean- 
ing: as Hues was not inquisitive enough to enquire of Murel, what he meant by 
that expression. 

6 



42 

to this improvement, we invented and formed a mode of correspon- 
ding by means of ten characters, mixed with other matter, which 
has been very convenient on many occasions, and especially when 
any of us gets into difficulties. I was encouraged in my new un- 
dertaking, and my heart began to beat high with the hope of being 
able, one day, to visit the pomp of the southern and western people, 
in my vengeance ; and of seeing their cities and towns one common 
scene of devastation, smoked walls and fragments. 

I decoyed a negro man from his master in Middle Tennessee, and 
pent him to Mills' Point by a young man, and I waited to see the 
movements of the owner. 

He thought his negro had run oft. So I started to take possession 
of my prize. I got another friend at Mills' Point to take my negro 
in a skiff and convey him to the mouth of Red River, and I took a 
passage on a steamboat. I then went through the country by land, 
and sold my negro for nine hundred dollars, and the second night 
after I stole him again, and my friend run him to the Irish bayou in 
Texas ; I followed on after him, and I sold my negro in Texs for 
five hundred dollars. I then concluded to visit South America, and 
see if there was no opening in that country for a speculation ; and I 
had concluded that I could get some strong friends in that country 
to aid me in my designs relative to a negro rebellion ; but of all the 
people in the world, the Spaniards are the most treacherous and 
cowardly; I never want them concerned in any matter with me, I 
had rather take the negroes in this country to fight, than a Spaniard. 
I stopped in a village and passed as a doctor, and commenced prac- 
tising medicine, I could ape the doctor first rate, having read Ew- 
el, and several other works on primitive medicine. I became a great 
favorite of an old Catholic ; he adopted me as his son in the faith, 
and introduced me to all the best families as a young doctor from 
North America. I had been with the old CatlwHc but a very short 
time, before I was a great Roman Catholic ; and bowed to the cross, 
and attended regular to all the ceremonies of that persuasion, and 
to tell you the fact, Hues, all that the Catholic requires or needs, to 
be universally received, is to be correctly represented ; but you know 
that I care nothing about religion ; I had been with the okl Catholic 
about three months, and was getting a heavy practice, when an op- 
portunity offered for me to rob the old Catholic's secretary of nine 
hundred dollars in gold, and could have got as much more in silver, 
if I could have carried it. I was soon on the road for home again; 
I stopped three weeks in New Orleans as I came on home, and had 
acme high fim with old mother Surgick's girls. 

I collected all my friends about New Orleans, at one of our friends 
houses in that place, and we set in coucil three days, before we got 
all our plans to our notion ; we then determined to undertake the re- 
beUion at every hazard, and make as many friends as we could for 
that purpose. Every man's business being assigned him, I started to 
Natchez on foot ; having sold my horse in New Orleans, with the in- 



43 

tention of stealing another after I started ; I walked four days, and 
no opportunity otiered for me to get a horse. The fifth day, about 
twelve o'clock I had become very tired, and stopped at a creek to 
get some water, and rest a little. While I was sitting on a log, 
looking down the road the way I had come, a man come in sight ri- 
ding a good looking horse. The very moment I saw him I was de- 
termined to have his horse, if he was in the garb of a travelbr. — 
He rode up, and I saw from his equippage, that he was a traveller. 
I arose from my seat, and drew an elegant rifle pistol on him, and 
ordered him to dismount. He done so, and I took his horse by the 
bridle, and pointed down the creek, and ordered him to walk before 
me. We went a few hundred yards and stopped. I hitched his 
horse, then made him undress himself all to his shirt and drawers^ 
and orderad him to turn his back to me ; he asked me if I was go- 
ing to shoot him. I ordered him the second time to turn his back to 
me. He said, "if you are determined to kill me, let me have time 
to pray before I die." I told him I had no time to hear him pray. 
He turned round and dropped on his knees, and I shot him through 
the back of the head. I ripped open his belly and took out his en- 
trails, and sunk him in the creek. I then searched his pockets, and 
found four hundred and one dollars and thirty-seven cents, and a 
number of papers that I did not take time to examine. I sunk the 
pocket book and papers, and hat in the creek. His boots were 
brand new, and fit me very genteel, and I put them on, and sunk my 
old shoes in the creek to atone for them. I rolled up his clothes 
and put them into his portmanteau, as they were brand new cloth, 
of the best quality, 1 mounted as fine a horse as ever I straddled, 
and directed my course for Natchez in much better style than I had 
been for the last five days. 

I reached Natchez, and spent two days with my friends at that 
place, and the girls under the hill together. I then left Natchez for 
the Choctaw Nation, with the intention of giving some of them a 
chance for their property. As I was riding along, between Benton 
and Rankin, planning for my designs, 1 was overtaken by a tall and 
good looking young man, riding an elegant horse : which was splen- 
didly rigo-ed off; and the young gentleman's apparel was of the 
richest that could be had, and his w^atch chain and other jewelry 
\vere of the richest and best. I was anxious to know if he intend- 
ed to travel through the Choctaw Nation, and 90on managed to learn. 
Jle said he had been to the lower country with a drove of negroes, 
jmd was returning home to Kentucky. We rode on, and soon got 
very intimate for strangers, and agreed to be company through the 

Indian Nation. We were two d d fine looking men, and to hear 

us talk we were very rich. I felt of him on the subject of specula- 
tion, but d— n it, how he cursed the speculators, and said that he 

was in a bad condition to fall into the hands of such d d villain*. 

/as he had the cash with him that twenty negroes had sold for ; and 
that he was very happy that he had happened to get in company 



44 

with me through the nation. I concluded that he was a noble prize, 
and longed to be counting his cash. At length wc came into one of 
those long stretches in the nation, where there was no house for 
twenty miles, on the third day after we had been in company with 
each other. The country was high, hilly, and broken, and no wa- 
ter; just about the time 1 reached the |>lace where I intended to 
count my companion's cash, I became very thirsty, and insisted on 
turning down a deep hollow, or dale, that headed near the road, to 
hunt some water. %Ve had followed down the dale for near four 
hundred yards, when I drew my pistol and shot iiim through. He 
fell dead. I commenced hunting for his cash, and opened his large 
pocket book that was stuffed vei y full, and when I began to open it, 
I thought it a treasure indeed ; but, Oh ! the contents of thai book ; 
it was tilled with the copies of songs, the forms of love letters, and 
some of his own composition — but no cash. I began to cut ofi" his 
clothing with my knife, and examine them for his money. I found 
four dollars and a half in change, in his pockets, and no more. And 
is this tlie amount for which twenty negroes sold, thought I. I re- 
collected his watch and jewelry, and 1 gathered them : his chain 
was rich and good, but it was swung to an old brass watch. He 

was a puff for true ; and I thought all such d d fools ought to 

die as soon as possible. I took his horse, and swapped him to an 
Indian native for four ponies, and sold them on the way home. I 
reached home, and spent a few weeks among the girls of my ac- 
quaintance, in all the enjoyments that money could afford. 

My next trip was through Georgia, South Carolina, North Caroli- 
na, Virginia and Maryland, and then back to South Carolina, and 
from there round by Florida and Alabama. I began to conduct the 
progress of my operations, and establish my emissaries over the 
country m every direction. After I turned for home from Alaba- 
ma, I was passing by where one of my friends lived, in company 
with three of my associates, ^vho were going home with me ; we 
stopped to sec how our friend was doing ; while wc were sitting out 
in his portico, there was a large drove of sheep came up to his blocks. 
H©. went out and examined them, and found them to be the flock of 
an old Baptist, who lived about six miles up the road from his house, 
and they had been gone from their owner for three months, and he 
could hear nothing of them. The old Baptist had accused my 
friend of having his sheep drove off to market, and abused hnn for 
stealing his sheep very much. My friend acquainted me with the 
circumstance, and I concluded to play a trick on the old jockey for 
his suspicions, so we gathered up all the flock, and drove ihem on 
before us, and got to the old Baptist's just after dark ; we called the 
old man out to the gate, and wanted to lodge with him all night ; but 
he refused to take us in, and urged as a reason, that his old woman 
was sick, and he could not accommodate us as he would wish. To 
these objections I told him that we could wait on ourselves — that I 
had three active young men with me, who could do all that was 



45 

wanting to be done. I told him that I had moved down below in 
the spring of the year, when my sheep was scattered, and I conclu- 
ded to leave them until fall; and that I had been up to my old place 
after them, and was going home : and complained of the hard drive 
I had made that day, as an excuse to stop with the old Baptist. I 
then told him I had a very fine wether that I wished to kill, as he 
was very unruly, and hard to drive, and what we did not use that 
night he was welcome to. Tlie old man shewed us a lot to pen our 
sheep, and the corn crib and stables, and told us that if we could 
wait on ourselves that we were welcome to stay. We soon fed our 
horses, and had the mutton dressed, and a large pot full cooking — 
The old man told us where to find meal, milk and butter ; and while 
my associates were cooking the sheep, I was conversing with the 
old Baptist on religion ; I told him I was a Baptist preacher. When 
news came that the sheep was done, I went into the kitchen, and 
we had a real feast of mution, at the expense ol the old Baptist. 

After supper we went in where the old lady was lying sick. The 
old man got his bible and hymn book, and invited me to go to duty. 
I used the books, and then prayed like hell for the recovery of the 
old lady. The next morning we were up before day-light, and had 
the sheep all on the road. We drove them about one mile, and 
scattered them in the woods, and left them. 

Weleftthe head of the wether that we killed lying in the lot 
where the old man conld see that it was his own mark. I arrived 
at home after a trip of six months. 

I have been going ever since from one place to another, directing 
and managing, but 1 have others now as good as myself to manage. 
This fellow, Phelps, that I was telling you of before, he is a noble 
fellow among the negroes, and he wants them all free ; and he 
knows how to excite them as well as any person: but he will not 
do for a robber, as he cannot kill a man unless he has received an 
injury from him first ; he is now in jail at Vicksburgh, and I fear 
will hang. I went to see him not long since : but he is so strictly 
watched, that nothing can be done. He has been in the habit of 
stopping men on the high-way and robbing them, and letting them 
goon; but that will never do for a robber : after I rob a man he 
will never give evidence against me ; and there is but one safe plan 
in the business, and that is to kill — If I could not aftbrd to kill a man 
I would not rob. I have often told Phelps he would be caught be- 
fore he knew it. I could raise men enough to go and tear down 
the jail, and take Phelps by force ; but that would endangeir all of 
our other plans. I have frequently had money enough to have set- 
tled myself rich ; but I have spent it as free as water in carrying on 
my designs. The last five years of my life have been spent in the 
.same way that 1 have been telling you, Hues : I have been from 
home the best part ot the time ; and I have let but few chances es- 
cape me, when I could rob, that I did not do it. It would take a 
week, Hues, to tell over all of my scrapes of that kind. You must 



46 

come and stay at my house the week befuie I start with them ne- 
groes to Irvin, and I will have time to tell over all my ups and 
downs for the last five years. I want you to go that trip with me. 
You can arrange your business in the nation in two weeks, and get 
to my house in Madison Conty. You will make more that trip 
than all your concerns are worth in the nation, so you had better 
give away what you have than to be confined to it." 

Night having come on, Murel and Hues began to look out for a 
house of entertainment; so Murel left ofl' lelhng the horrid deeds of 
his past life. They came to a house awhile alter night, where they 
stopped until morning. 

The next morning Murel and Hues proceeded on their journey ; 
but the time was now drawing near when Murel was to loose his 
young associate, as they had only ten miles to ride together, when 
they would reach Wesley, there they were to part/ Hues was to 
go on to the nation, as Murel thought, to arrange his affairs to join 
him ao-ain ; and Murel was to go on home to j)rocure the negroes 
which he had promised to deliver to Mr. Irvin, and have them ready 
by the time Hues was to be at his house, in Madison County. The 
following is the last conversation of those two mystic friends, which 
was enjoyed on the last ten miles. 

31. "Well, Hues, we must part to-day ; and I am not half done 
talking, but 1 will quit telling what I have done, and tell what I am 
going to do. I have about forty negroes now engaged, that are 
waiting for me to run them, and the best of it is, they are the prop- 
erty of my enemies nearly entirely. I have a great many friends 
who have got in to be overseers : they are a strong support to my 
plan. I have a friend by the name of Nolin, my broihcr-in-law'a 
brother, who is overseeing in Alabama, for a man who is from home, 
Nolin has decoyed six likely negro men for me, I am to go within 
about ten niiles with a two horse cairyall, and stop at an appointed 
place. Nolin is to raise a sham charge against the negroes, and 
they are to run oft' and come to my waggon. I will put them into 
the waggon: and fasten down the curtams all round, and then throw 
fodder over them ; and have a striker to drive them to the Missis- 
sippi swamp for me, where there will be no danger. I will ride a 
few miles bcliind ; but never seem to notice the waggon. Noihi is 
to be driving the woods for the negroes, and reporting that he had 
seen them every day or two, until I have time to get clear out o( 
the country with them. 1 have eight more engaged in Alabama, at 
one Eason's, the fellow whom I was speaking of before. The re- 
mainder of the forty I get in my own country. You recollect the 
boat that I showed you in the bayou, on the other side of the jiver ? 
that boat I intend to fill with negroes for my own benefit. 

//. There is a fellow by the name of Bundles, or Burns, or some 
such a name, a negro trader, who lives in some part of the new part 
of Tennessee, who, I think, is as hard to cheat, as any man I have 



47 

ever seen in all my travels ; and if all the Tennesseeans are as sharp 
as I think he is, I do not want to deal with many of them. 

M. O ! I know who you are thinking of, his name is Byrn ; he 
does pass down through your country sometimes, and a hell of a fel- 
low he is ; he can cheat you to death, and make you think all the 

time he is putting you on the road to a fortune ; but d n him, I 

handled the cash that one of his negroes sold for. lie suspected me 
for running his negro, and offered me the chance of him, for three 

hundred dollars ; but I thought it was a d d poor business to 

give three hundred dollars for a thing I already had. Byrn is a hard 
hand, and I had as soon fall into the hands of the Devil as his. 

Hues spoke in this uncertain manner of the name of Mr. Byrn, 
to leave the impression on the mind of INIurel, that he had just bare- 
ly seen Mr. Byrn, and had only a faint conception of his name, 
■without any acquaintance ; yet so descriptive, as to make him un- 
derstand whom he meant by his remarks. Hues knew that Byrn 
had lost a negro, and he wished to know whether Murel had stolen 
him or not ; and he took the above ingenious plan to get Murel on 
the subject, without exciting his suspicion. 

M. I can tell you another trick we have. Hues, to get horses. — 
Our friends examine the stray books regular, and whenever there is 
a stray horse of any value found on them, he goes and gets a de- 
scription of the horse and then writes for two of his friends, if none 
do pass, who are strangers in the country he lives in. He gives his 
friends a minute description of the horse ; and one will go and 
claim, and the other prove the property. I was in Arkansaw this 
fall, and there was a man who found a fine horse standing in the 
edge of the Mississippi river, which had by some means got off of 
some boat and swam to shore ; but could not get up the bank ; he 
dug the bank, and got out the horse. One of my friends heard of it, 
and went and examined the horse so that he could tell me all the 
flesh marks. I went and asked him if he had found ahorse of such 
a description, describing the horse in every particular. He said he 
had. I looked at the horse and claimed him. I gave the fellow 
five dollars for his trouble, and took the horse home, and have him 
yet. I have swam the Mississippi twice on that horse. 

H. We are not far from Wesley, where we will part, and you 
have not given me a list of the names of your friends as yet. 

M. Oh ! yes, yes. Have you any paper with you? you must 
have that before we part/' 

Hues took out the remainder of his blank book and pencil, which 
had not been used for a private record : When the following names 
were given, and recorded, as the friends and members of Murel's 
dan^ « ' 



48 



Catalogue of MvjUBii's Mystic Clan» 







Teyinessee, 




2- 


— iWurels, 


S. Spires, 


S. Weathers, 


2- 


— By rd songs, 


1). Crenshaw, 


Col. Jarot, 




M. Dickson, 


2— Nolins, 


V. Chism, 




Capt. Ruflln, 


K. Dickson, 


Ja. Hosskins, 




L. And<n-son, 


W. Crenshaw, 


P. Johnson, 




J. Goaldin, 


J. Nuckles, 


R. Tims, 




L. Batenian, 


D. Ahart, 


J. Taylor, 


2- 


— Busheys, 


E. Chandler. 


L. More 


4- 


— 3/aroneys', 
W. Howel, 


J. Eas, 2 
J. Hardin, 


— Littlepages, 
B. Sims, 




Esq. Wilbern 


, Z. Gorin, 


Y. Pearsonj 


3- 


-Boaitons', 


G. Wiers, 


G. Sparks, 


5- 


-Lathom's, 


S. Larit, 


A. Smith, 




R. Parew, 


G — Hueses', 
Mississippi. 


K. Deron. 




G. Parker, 


— Bloodworth, 


S. Williams, 




J. Duihain, 


R. Horton, 


R. Forrow, 




C. Hapos, 
G. Goodman, 


C. Cook, 
G. Corkle, 


W. Presley, 
— Staunton, 




B. Johnson, 


— Clanin, 


D. Rookor, 




C. Hickman, 


L. Cooper, 


W. Thomas, 




C. Barton, 


Wm. Nawls, 5- 


-WiUevs', 




D. 3/arlovv, 


J. Hess, 


Capt.>/edford, 


2- 


-Wilson's, 


3 — Hunters', 


Capt. Morris, 


2- 


— Gilberts^ 


G. Tucker, 


A. Brown, 


3- 


-Glenns*, 


4 — Yarber's, 2- 
Arkansaiv. 


-Harlins'. 




S. Pucket, 
G. Aker, 


2 — Barneys', 

J. Simmons, 4— 


W. Ray, 

-Tuckers', 




I.. Good, 


2— Loyds', ^ 


B. Norton, 


3- 


— Shurlocks', 


J. Smith, 3- 


-Joneses', 




P. Billing, 
S. Coulter, 


L. 3/artin, 
C. .Jimcrson, 


A. Hooper, 
H. Petit, 


6- 


— Serrils', 


W. Henderson, 3 


— Bunches', 


2- 


-Nowlins', 


1 — Dartcss', 3- 
Kentucky. 


— Horton s'. 


3- 


-Farrows', 


D. ilfugit, 2- 


—Pattersons*. 



49 



4- 


— Wards, 


4 — Foresythes, 


S. Goin 




D. Clayton, 


Q. Brantley, 


R. Williamson., 




L. Potts, 


H. Haly, 


— Reese s'. 




H. Potter, 


3 — Carters. 
Missouri. 




3- 


-Whites, 


W. Aker, 


2 — Herins, 


2- 


— Garlins, 


6 — Millers, 


S. Falcon, 




G. Poap, 


H. Warrin, 


R. Coward, 


3 — Moaseways, 


D. Corkle, 


3 — Johnsons, 




E. Boalin, 


Col. S. W. 
Alabama. 


Foreman. 




H. Write, 


W. Hickel, 


J. Homes, 




P. Miles, 


G. Sheridon, 


B. Corhoon, 




O. Moore, 


E. Nolin, 


3 — Farmers, 




S. Baley, 


2 — Glascocks, 


4 — Sorils, 




G. Hammons, 


3 — Martins, 


R. Cunagen, 




M. Hancock, 


H. Chance, 


Capt. Boin, 




D. Belfer, 


Esq. Malone. 
Georgia. 






H» Moris, 


2— Heffils', 


D. Haris, 




D. Coalmon. 


2 — Rameys', 


4- — Reves', 


4- 


— Cullins', 


6 — Rosses', 


W. Johnson, 




Capt. Ashley, 


S. Gambel, 


Denson, Esq. 


2- 


-Crenshaws', 


2 — Lenits', 
South Carolina. 


4 — Peakes'. 


3- 


-Foarts*, 


W. Simpson, 


2_Williams', 




E. Owin, 


O. Russet, 


2 — Hookers', 




S. Pinkney, 


3_Piles' 


6_Woods', 




W. King, 


H. Black, 


N. Parsons, 




G. Hollier, 


F. Waters, 


3 — Franklins, 




M. Ware, 


G. Gravit, 


4 — Robertsons', 




B. Henry. 


North CaroUna. 






A. Fentres, 


J. Secel, 


2 — Micklejohns', 


3- 


-Hacks', 


D. Harhson, 


D, Barnet, 




M. Coopwocffl 


, S. Bulkes, 


R. Huiston, 




M. Johnson, 


1 — Solomons', 

7 


B. Kelit, 



90 



J. Hackey, 
J. Haris, 
4— Gilferds', 



R. Garrison, 
G. Derom, 
3 — Merits', 

L. Wiseman, 
P. Hume, 
W. Wilbern. 



V. Miles, 
3 — Perrys', 
K. Farmer, 

Virginia. 

J. Ferines, 
Kerkmon, 
4 — Mathises', 

D. Hawks, 

E. Cockburn, 



S. Stogdon, 
L. Smith, 
W. Pariners. 



A. Beloach, 
S. Walker, 
W. Carnes, 
S. Washorn, 
F. Henderson, 



W. Gwins, 
M. Hains, 
G. Dortherd, 
A. Cuthbut, 
D. Hays, 
D. Read, 
S. M'Write, 



Maryland. 

2 — Fishers', 

F. Smith, 

G. M' Waters, 
3 — Morgans', 

S. Winston, 
H. M'Gleton, 
T. Goodin, 

Floi-ida„ 



H. Brown, 
C. Paron, 
L, Strawn, 
W. Leemon, 
-Hobses, 
M. CPConel, 
J. Wilkit. 



E. Carmefer, 

2— M'Gilits, 
A. Sterling, 
J. Preston, 
G. Flush. 



C. Depont^ 
A. Pelkin, 
T. M'Nut, 
S. M'Carty, 
3 — Hunts', 
T. Parker, 
J. Sims, 
S. Muret, 
C. Henderson, 



C. Winkle, W. Hargeret, 

S. Whipel, E. Foskew, 

J. Deark, B. Stafford, 

L. M'Guint, 3— Baggets* 



Louisiana. 

J. Johnson, 
A. Rhone, 
P. Read, 
W. Bryant, 
D. Cotton, 
S. Roberson, 
M. Blurcn, 
R. Miller, 
T. Ray, 



J. Bevley, 
D. Willis, 
H. Pelton, 
W. Moss, 

-Baleys', 
L. Duncan, 
G. Mury, 
G. Pase, 

-Deris', 



Transientiers, who travel ft om place to place. 



2 — Hains', 
2 — Jones', 
R. Haris, 



L, Taylor, 
G. Boalton. 
3 — Levits', 



S. Cooper, 
Sparkes, 
P. Doddridge, 



51 

G. Hunter, H. Helley, G. Tucker, 

C. Moris, S. Skerlock, 3 — Rinins*, 

Soril Phelps. 

When the above catalogue was finished, M urel observed, "There 
is not paper to make a proper list, but when you come up to my 
house we will have time to make a complete one, and this will do 
until then, as you will not travel any until you go with me a few 
trips, and learn the routes ; and there is not near all the names on 
this list : but there is no more paper to write on. Hues, I want you 
to be with me at New Orleans, on the night that the negroes com- 
mence their ravages. I intend to head the company that attacks 
that city myself. I feel an ambition to demolish the city which was 
defended from the ravages of the British army, by the great Gene- 
ral Jackson." 

Murel and Hues arrived at Wesley, where they were to part. — 
Hues promised Murel that he would be ready to see him by three 
weeks or sooner. They took tjieir leave of each other and parted. 

So soon as Murel was out of sight, Hues turned round, and came 
back to Wesley, and remained there until Murel had time to be sev- 
eral miles ahead. Hues then took another route for Madison coun- 
ty, and made it so as to travel the last ten miles after night, so he 
might pass without the knowledge of any, only such as he was wil- 
ling should see him. Hues arrived at Mr. Henning's after midnight, 
and acquainted his old friend with his adventure, and Murel's con- 
fessions concerning his negroes. Mr. Henning collected some of 
the best citizens of the county, to assist in arresting Murel, a man 
who had become a pest and terror to the country. 

The next night after Hues arrived at Mr. Henning's, the guard 
was prepared, and they went out after Murel with as much interest 
as if they were going to rid the country of a thousand hostile sava- 
ges. Hues was one of the guard, and he requested all the guard to 
still call him by his assumed name. After Murel was arrested, the 
officer asked him who went with him to Arkansaw. Murel replied, 
"a young man by the name of Hues." The officer then asked him 
if he had ever seen the young man, before he went to Arkansaw. — 
Murel replied, that he had never seen the young man before he saw 
him at the bridge at Estanauley, where he got in his company. The 
officer then called Hues out from the company, into the presence of 
Murel. When Hues presented himself before him, Murel for the 
first time, as often as he had been arrested, lost his spirits and forti- 
tude. He appeared as though he would faint, and they gave him 
water several times before he recovered. 

It was the thought of having told so many of the black deeds of 
his hfe, and exposed his clan to a man whom he then saw was his 
enemy, and one of the armed guard to conduct him to justice, that 
griped the soul of Murel. He saw himself captured and out-gene- 
raled by the youth whom he but one moment before, thought lost by 



52 

the splendor of his horrid crimes, and won by the glittering trap- 
pings of infamous gain. These were the thoughts which wrung the 
flinty heart of Murel, and made his soul sicken at the prospect be- 
fore him. 

Hues was anxious that Murel should not be arrested, until he car- 
ried the negroes to Mr. Irvin, and take liim in that act; but the cit- 
zens were determined to secure him, while they could lay their 
hands on him. As the guard were taking Murel to the committing 
court, he enquired of one of the guard wlio this man Hues was, and 
whether he had many acquaintances in the country or not. The 
guard being anxious to hear JMurel's ideas, told him that Hues was 
a stranger. "Well," said Murel, "he had better remained a stran- 
ger : I have friends. I had much rather be in my condition than in 
his." The guard arrived at Jackson with Murel, and he was taken 
into a tavern, and guarded until a court could be formed. While 
they were in the tavern, many persons came in to see Murel and 
Hues ; and Hues being willing that Murel should then be undeceiv- 
ed in his name, met his friends as they came in, who called him by 
the name of Stewart, his real name. Murel now saw that he had 
been deceived in the name as well as the character of Mr. Stewart, 
and he saw that Mr. Stewart was universally known by all who en- 
tered the room. His spirits, which had a little revived at the idea 
of his man Hues being a stranger, now began to sink into a double 
dejection. Murel, though a mystic chief, was caught in a mystery 
he could not unfold. 

Murel was committed to prison in February, 1834, and his trial 
wa§ to be in the July following. 



CHAPTER YI. 



The efforts of John A. Murel and his friends for the destruction of 
the life and character of Mr. Virgil A. Stewart. 

After Murel was secure, Mr. Stewart and one of Mr. Henning's 
sons took a trip through the Yazoo country, in search of Mr. Hen- 
ning's negroes, as Murel had said that they would go to that market, 
if they could get through the Choctaw pass or bayou. Mr. Stewart 
was in hopes of intercepting the boat on the river, before the rob- 
bers left it, M'ith the negroes ; but on enquiring, boats could not go 
tlirough the bayou at that time ; so they had gone to some other 
market. Mr. Stewart was very desirous that the negroes should be 
found, as all the evidence depended on himself; and he neglected 
his own business, which demanded his presence, to go in search of 
the negroes. 



53 

Mr. Stewart had been trading among the Indians and new set- 
tlers of the Choctaw Purchase for about nine months, and intended 
to settle himself in that country, and had given his name to some of 
hisfriends as a candidate for county clerk, before he left there to vis- 
it his friends in Tennessee. The election came on while Mr. Stew- 
art was engaged in trying to find the negroes which Murel had stole 
from Mr. Henning. He passed through the Choctaw Purchase, 
while making his searches for the negroes, and his friends wanted 
him to stop and attend to the election : as it was a new country, and 
but few persons acquainted with each other, candidates were requi- 
red to mix with the people for an acquaintance ; but Mr. Stewart 
told his friends that if he was to neglect the business he was then 
on to electioneer, that he would not deserve an ofiice, or the confi- 
dence of community. 

After an unsuccessful search, Mr. Stewart returned to Tennes- 
see. Murel's friends were exerting themselves to screen their prince 
from the penitentiary ; and by this time they were all acquainted 
with the fact that Murel had given a list of their names to Mr. 
Stewart, and many of them. had stood fair in society, and they were 
desperately pestered. In short terms, all the land and boon of mys- 
tics were in trouble, a spy had visited their camps, and had broke 
their golden bowl, and carried off captive their chief. So. there 
was weeping among the pj-ofessors of villainy. 1 here were but 
two alternatives : they must either destroy the character of Mr. 
Stewart, or he would destroy them. Mr. Stewart's life woukl save 
their chief from the penitentiary ; but that would not restore the 
lost character of those whom he had disclosed on ; it would only 
fix their guilt, sealed with his blood, unless they could disgrace him, 
with dishonor, which would discredit his word. 

They soon had several charges, and preferments, afloat against 
Mr. Stewart, but they all soon disproved themselves, or were con- 
futed by him. 

Mr. Stewart returned to the Choctaw Purchase, to prepare some 
buildings, to settle himself in business. Mr. Stewart had left seve- 
ral trunks of property with a man by the name of Vess, to take care 
of while he was gone to Tennessee ; but he remained in Tennessee 
rather longer than what he had expected ; and there being several 
rumors in the country, that men were seen passing through the 
country enquiring for Mr. Stewart, bearing arms, and rather suspi- 
cious characters, Vess and his wife began to be in hopes that Mr. 
Stewart was actually murdered, as he had no relations in that coun- 
try, and left several hundred dollars worth of property in their care, 
which they intended to hold by fraud; and began to speak of ad- 
ministering on Mr. Stewart's estate, and said that they held a con- 
siderable account against him. 

They had become so certain of his death, that they began to pick 
his locks, to examine the contents which they considered as already 
won ; and among the rest, they examined a purse of silver that they 



54 

found in one of the chests they opened ; they found it containing^ 
fifty dollars, but left it with only forty-one : nine dollars sticking fast 
to their fingers. 

When Mr. Stewart came home, Vess and his wife were despe- 
rately confused. They calculated that Mr. Stewart would hear of 
their saying that they held an account agauist him, which they knew 
was false ; and they knew that Mr. Stewart would miss his silver 
out of his chest. When Mr. Stewart began to unlock his chests, 
Vess and his wile looked very wild and confused ; and when he 
missed his money, he asked them if they had opened his chest? — 
They both denied opening his chest; but said that Mr. Clanton had 
opened it. Mr. Stewart knew that Mr. Clanton's keys would un- 
lock his locks, and that Mr. Clanton was in (he habit of opening his 
chests and trunks, whenever he wanted any thing that was in them, 
as they were very intimate, and lived nearly as one family ; but Mr. 
Stewart did not believe that Mr. Clanton had taken his money. — 
Mr. Stewart concluded to say nothing about his money, as it would 
hurt the feelings of Mr. Clanton, as he was in the habit of opening 
his locks; and Mr. Stewart was satisfied how his money went : but 
he was determined to quit boarding with Vess, so soon as he could 
get another boarding h(.>use. 

Several weeks had passed off, and Mr. Stewart had still got no 
other place to board. When one evening he staid out until after 
supper was over, so they put supper by for him until he came in ; 
after he had drank one cup of coffee he was taken violently sick, 
and commenced vomiting. Mr. Stewart was then suspicious that 
he had drank a dose of poison. Mr. Stewart rode out the next day 
to look at a tract of land : and in the evening as he was returning 
home, he was overtaken by a man who had a holster of pistols be- 
fore him. Mr. Stewart was naturally on his guard against all stran- 
gers ; and his friends had cautioned him very much to be on his 
watch, and to go armed, as they calculated, from the threats which 
had been made, that the friends of Murel would endeavor to kill 
Mr. Stewart, to dispense with his evidence agamst Murel ; but Mr. 
Stewart was not armed on that evening, which was a very uncom- 
mon thing with him when he rode out. The man who had overta- 
ken him, enquired if he was acquainted in the country about Troy, 
and began to make several enquiries about the people of that coun- 
try, and among others he enquired for a family of the Glens, whom 
Stewart knew to be of Murel's clan ; Stewart began to suspect 
him, and put himself on his guard. The stranger asked Stewart if 
he was acquainted with a man in that country by the name of V. A. 
Stewart. When the following dialogue ensued. 

''Mr. Stewart, Yes, sir, just as well as I would wish to be with 
;all such fellows. 

Stranger, What, do you not like him ! sir ? 

Mr. S. I have seen people I like as well. 

S. Have you any particular objection to this fellow, Stewart ? 



55 

Mr. S. O ! yes, many. 

*S. If you have no objection to telling your objections to this fel- 
low, Stewart, I should like to hear them, as I dislike him very much 
myself. 

Mr. S. O ! he is too smart. Interferes with things which do 
not concern him. He had no right to take the advantage he did of 
a man by the name of Murel. 

-S. Do you understand this ? [giving his hand a flirt. Mr. S. an- 
swered the sign with the flirt of the hand] O ! yes, you are up to it. 
I am glad to see you sir, what is your name ? [shaking hands.] 

Mr. S. I have several names ; but whenever I wish to be very 
smart, or successful in speculation and trade, I go by the name of 
Tom Goodin. I discover that you are a master of mystic signs — 
what is your name, sir ? 

S. My name is George Aker, sir ! and am on a mission from our 

council to stop the wind of that d d Stewart. Can you give 

me any assistance in that matter ? 

Goodin. O ! yes, sir, I am the very man to assist you in that mat- 
ter. I did not know that there had been a meeting on the subject ; 
but so soon as I heard of the misfortune, and heard where Stewart 
lived, I was soon in his neighborhood waiting for a good opportuni- 
ty. I have been very cautious and still. I have managed to get 
acquainted with Stewart, and have had some tolerable good chan- 
ces ; but have been waiting for a better. He thinks me a very clev- 
er fellow and I have been waiting to get him off" by ourselves. 

Aker. We collected and consulted on what plan to pursue to 

destroy that d d rascal, and restore the character of those whom 

he has disclosed on. We have got him in a d d close box. He 

is living with his enemies, and the friends of some of the men whom 
he has disclosed on. We will give him hell before we quit him ; 
our plan is to get Murel out of prison, and let him go off until court, 
and after he is gone from prison, get a charge against Stewart, that 
will destroy his character before the world, and when court comes 
on Murel will appear for trial, which will convince the world that he 
is innocent ot the charge ; and should Stewart even appear, no per- 
son will believe him, for we will prove him to be one of d est 

rascals that lives. Murel will be acquitted, and the character of 
those who have been disclosed on will be restored ; but we never 
intend for Stewart to live until court, we will kill him and disgrace 
him too. We have it all fixed — the fellow with whom he lives is a 
good friend to some of our clan, and we have agreed to give him 
one thousand dollars to raise a charge against Stewart ; and he is a 
big fish, and things he says will be believed ; you know we have 
some big Bugs among us. I am told that he is a confidential friend 
of Stewart's, and that they have done business for each other. You 
know that it will be an easy matter for him to make a plausible ac- 
cusation ; but he will not agree to make the charge against Stewart, 
until after he is killed as they have always been very friendly, and 



m 

he wants no investigation by the young tartar. We sent one fellow 
before, who engaged with an old man and his wife to poison him, 
for one hundred dollars ; but they have not done it from some cause, 
and we are tired of waiting on tliem, so they made up two hundred 

dollars forme, and sent me to despatch the d d traitor; and if I 

can get no chance at him this time, before I leave the purchase, we 
intend to bring men Irom Arkansaw, with an accusation against him 
for passing counterfeit money to them ; and in this way get the 

d d traitor into our power, and when we get him back into the 

Mississippi morass we will give him hell ; we will give him some- 
thing to do besides acting the spy. We will speechify him next 
time : but I am told that Stewart has managed to get a company to 
take up strangers who come into the neighborhood after his scalp. 

G. Yes, but his company will not be in our way, for I know all 
his customs, where he walks, and where he sleeps, just as well as he 
does, and I am not the least suspected by any person, so you know 
that I can fix him. 

A. O ! yes, 1 count him mine now ; and I will give you one 
hundred dollars to help me get his scalp. I have no doubt, but the 
company that went on to get out Murel, has got him out more than 
a week ago. Where do you live Goodin. 

G. I am a little like a stray dog, sir, I have neither home nor 
master, and stay longest where there are the best speculations to 
be had ; though I stay mostly in the neighborhood of Commerce at 
present, and sometimes work to- prevent being suspected. I play 
off occasionally. The people think me a good sort of a fellow, only 
a little wild. I have still been looking out for every chance that 
might ot^'er for this fellow Stewart ; 1 have a choice scatter gun, and 
one fine pistol, which 1 keep for the purpose of saving his scalp ; I 
want it very much. Have you ever been in this country before ? 

A, O I yes ; frequently, though 1 have not been much seen. I 
generally come into the neighborhood of an evening, and leave it 
the next morning before daylight, which you know is the usual mode 

of visiting among mystics. I had a chance to have seen that d d 

curse some time back, at an election at Troy, but there was another 
fellow who had undertaken to despatch him then, so I let the oppor- 
tunity pass without improving it. I have never heard the Glens 
speak of you in this country ; did you not know that they were spec- 
ulators ? 

G. O! yes, but I never go among them. You know that it is 
necessary to have some respectable fellows ; and you know that it 
would not do for me to be among them, as they are suspected, if I 
wish to play the deep game ; and to be more certain of victory I 
have never made myself known to any of the Glens, or any of the 
speculators of this country. If you examine the list you will find 
my name. I have been looking out for Stewart. Wo have as 
much right to play tricks as they have ; but I dislike to run too 



57 

great a risk for his scalp ; I would like to have a good chance ; and 
you know there is getting away to be thought of. 

A. Do you think you can kill Stewa-t to-night, and meet me to- 
rnorrow at Glen's, to let me hear the news? you are acquainted in 
the settlement and are not suspected ; but 1 am a stranger, and 1 
had rather not be seen by any but my friends, as this company 
might catch me. 

G. I will meet you in the morning, on the path which leads froni 
Glen's to Commerce, at a pile of house logs. Glen can tell you 
how to go; but you must not let any person come with you in the 
morning, or say any thing to Glen, or any person else about what is 
going on. We aie enough to know it, as it will be at very during 
act. I will act for the best. 

A. I will be at the place soon in the morning. Here is one 
hundred dollars. That is not all you will get, if you are successful 

in stopping the d d villain's wind. You say you have a good 

scatter gun. If you can get no other chance, shoot him as he sit* 
by the fire ; you can get oft" without being seen, and we will make 
our escape to Arkansaw together. We can do nothing lintil he is 
killed, as we can get no clew at his character until then. 

G. That will be a daring project ; but I enter into it with a de- 
termined mind ; and I am of opinion that you had better not go to 
Glen's but go with me to a respectable house of my acquaintance, 
where we will go to bed, and in the night I will get my gun and go 
to where Stewart boards, and do what I can for liim and return to 
bed before day ; and I have a friend whom I wish to go with us to 
Arkansaw. We can then leave his house the next morning, and I 
and my friend can leaVe the neighborhood without being suspected 
for the crinie. 

A. I have some particular business with Glen, relative to some 
instructions ; and they must be left with him, as he will have the 
best ppportunity of forwarding matters. You go to your acquaint- 
ance's and do as you have said ; but 1 had rather not be seen by any 
but my friends, as a stranger would be suspected much sooner than 
you. I will go to Glen's, but I will not mention your ria,me to a liv- 
mg soul, as you are playing the same sort of game upon hirai that he 
played lipph us. We will keep it all to ourselves, until sill is over, 

and that d d villain is finished, as you have never made yourself 

known to the other speculators of this country. Your plan is a good 
one, and the best of it is to have him beat in his own way. 

Aker and Goodin having arrived at the place ot separation, Aker 
remarked : — "Well Goodin, I wish you great success. We meet in 
the morning at the appointed place." They parted apparently un- 
der fellow feeling and sentiments. 

Mr. Stewart began to reflect on the dangerous condition he was 
in ; he saw himself surrounded by enemies who were plotting 
against his life. He was then satisfied that he had drank a dose of 
poison the night before, and had just parted with a nriurderous vil- 

8 



5S 

lain, who was an agent to destroy his life. Tie reHected on the 
prospect before hini in a deep melancholy, and thought of the devo- 
ted friendship which he liad borne to Clanton, and his interest, and 
then reflected on the fell treatment which he was receiving, widi the 
deepest regret. lie returned home, but instead of going to his boar- 
ding house for his supper, he walked over to a Mr. Sander's, an old 
gentleman of an amiable disposition, with whom be had spent many 
of his spare hours : after he had taken supper with Mr, Sanders, he 
went to his boarding house ; Mrs. Vess set supper for hrm, but he 
refused to take any, telling her that he had supped ; she insisted very 
much on his drinking a cup of coffee, but he refused. He walked 
out and got under a cart bed which was leaning against the house, 
where he couTd watch the manoeuvres, and listen to the conversation 
of Vess and his wife. The coffee which was intended for him to 
drink, was carried to the door and thrown out ; when he saw that, 
his blood began to boil with revenge. 

Mr. Stewart was on the road the next morning by sunrise, with 
his gun, to meet his intended murderer ; he reached the appointed 
pile of logs, but no Aker appeared. Mr. Stewart waited for Aker 
until ten o'clock but he never appeared : Mr. Stewart concluded 
that Aker had, by some means, learned his mistake from his friends 
and disappeared. 

Mr. Stewart has never left any thing, from which a conclusion 
could be drawn, as to the manner he intended to treat the infamous 
villain who had engaged him to destroy his own life, more than ho 
^vent to the appointed plane of meeting well armed. Stewart cer- 
tainly saved his life by the ingenious deception he practised on that 
rapacious assassin, for had he told his real name, he would have 
been shot in an instant ; for he had no arms to make any defence, 
■while Aker was well armed ; and there is no doubt but a sense of 
his perilous situation sharpened his wits, and prompted him to resort 
to the ingenious stratagem he practised, when, if he had been arm- 
ed, he would have pursued a different course ; but the kind protec- 
tion of Providence was ffuarding the safety of Stewart, and let man 
leam from the history of this transaction the protection of Heaven. 
Stewart returned home in trouble and disquietude ; he had com- 
menced building to settle himself, and was anxious to commence 
business j but he saw it would not do for him to settle at that place 
wh^re he was surrounded with his enemies. 

He concluded to finish the house which he had commenced, and 
then leave the country until after the trial of John A. Murel, so as 
to evade the operations of his enemies. He was troubled to think 
that Mr. Matthew Clanton could be hired to do him an injury, or 
that he would take sides with such infamous villains. He studied 
on it for several days, and sometimes he would reproach himself for 
beheving that Clanton could be hired for so base a purpose ; and 
then he would recollect that Clanton would never join the company 
which was formed to keep those suspicious characters out of the 



59 

neighborhood ; which Was very important to his safety. Stewart 
intended to move his boarding to Mr. Sanders', so soon as he could. 
He never would eat at Vess' any more, only when all were eating 
together, and he tried them seveial nights; when supper would be 
prepared for just himself, the coffee was always thrown out after he 
walked out of the house. 

A few days had passed off very dull with Mr. Stewart, when 
one morning he received a letter from a friend in Tennessee, which 
informed hiin of John A. Murel's escape from prison. This intelli- 
gence revived all that had passed with him and George Aker, and 
seemed to be a warning to leave the dangerous place which he then 
occupied. 

Before Mr. Stewart had left the purchase, to visit his friends in 
Teruaessee at the time he was solicited to follow J(jhn A. IMurel, he 
had taken the care of Matthew Clanton's business for about six 
weeks, until Clanton could go into Tennessee after his family, as 
Clanton had no clerk, and wanted to go after his family, Stewart 
consented to attend to his business until he returned; although his 
own business suffered for the want of his attention during the time ; 
Clanton and Stewart had been very friendly from their first ac- 
quaintance, and they had been acquainted with each other over ic 
Tennessee, before they moved into the Purchase ; and Stewart is 
one of those kind of young men who will neglect his own business, 
to. befriend or oblige a friend. He is entirely devoted in matters of 
friendship. Clanton's business was a rough concern, with but little 
regularity in the way it was managed ; it consisted of remnantg, 
and old goods, and such things as could be sold to the Indians, and 
new settlers of that country. He had a day book in v/hich he set 
down the running accounts of those whom he ci'edited, and a ledg- 
er in which they were posted, and a drawer in the writing desk, in 
which he put all the cash that was received for goods, or any thing 
which was sold, but no cash book, and when an article was sold for 
cash, the money was deposited in the drawer, and no further notice 
was taken of it. Stewart raised but one new account on Clanton's 
books while he attended to his business, and that was against him- 
self, for a man by the name of Smith; that is, the goods were for 
Smith; but Stewart assumed the payment of the debt as he was 
owing Smith on a running account for corn. The two accounts 
were open, and whenever Smith wanted an article from the store it 
was charged, and when Stewart wanted corn he got it from Smith. 
Stewart could have paid Smith the money for his corn, just as easily 
as he could pay Clanton for his goods ; but he bartered with Smith 
to throw the money into the hands of Clanton : whom he believed 
to be his friend. So when Stewart wanted any thing from the store 
himself, he paid the money into the drawer, as he had one running 
account on the books for Smith. During the six weeks, Stewart 
had got five or six dollars worth of articles for himself, and took in 
more than ninety dollars from others, for spirits and different arti- 



60 

cles. This amount was thrown into the drawer in one common 
pile, as it was received by Httles ; but when a regular customer paid 
his account on the book, the receipt of the amount was entered un- 
der the account. 

Clanton returned home and received his business from the hands 
of Stewart, and was highly pleased with the way Stewart had man- 
aged his business during his absence. Stewart settled the account 
he had raised for Smith with Clanton, and paid over all the money 
which he had collected, and what he had received for goods sold. — 
Clanton was so pleased with the way Stewart had attended to his 
business during his absence, that he complimented him with a lot in 
a little place which he had laid oft' for a town ; but lie had not been 
offered a large bribe at that time, to traduce the character of Stew- 
art, or perhaps we would then have heard a different story from 
Clanton, as to the honor of Stewart. Though at that time Slew- 
art had not interfered with the proceedings of villains : no mystic 
lords had then been exposed by Stewart, whose fate depended on 
his destruction. Clanton then had no inducements to act dishonest ; 
and he could then believe Stewart an honorable young man. 

Stewart having acquitted himself of Clanton's business, he left 
the Purchase for Tennessee, in January 1834, on private business, 
where he was solicited by his friend, Mr. Henning, to follow John 
A. Murel, and try to regain his negroes which had been stolen from 
his possession. 

Stewart quit Clanton's business in January 1834, and the May 
following Clantop took exceptions to the way Stewart had mana- 
ged his business, by charging him with dishonor, and said that he 
had not paid for the goods which he had got for himself from the 
store, while he had attended to his business. This accusation was 
made by Clanton, about one nionth after Stewart had returned homo 
from Tennessee, and the second day after he had heard that John 
A. Murel had made his escape from prison. The only reason that 
Clanton could advance for his accusation against Stewart was, that 
he had not made an account of the articles >vhich he had got for 
himself, instead of paying for them : recollect that Stewart had one 
running account on the books for Smith, and he did not \vish to have 
a complexed account, for that reason he paid for the articles which 
hp got for himself. Stewart is not acquainted with the rules and 
customs of clerks, neither did he consider himself Clanton's clerk ; 
he considered himself his agent, and attended to all his business as 
an agent. Stewart could see no difference in paying for ?in article, 
and using it himself, or sejling it to another man ; and there is no 
difference with an honest man. Clanton could, with equal proprie- 
ty, demanded an account of every article which was sold for cash 
by Stewart, which is contrary to his mode of doing business ; for 
Clanton used no cash book in his establishment. If Clanton was 
honest in his accusation against Stewart's honor, why this delay of 
five months before he made his accusation ? He had time to examine 



61 

his business before he received it from the hands of Stewart, and 
after Stewart was gone to Tennessee, Clanton opened his trunks 
and chests whenever he wanted any of his tools, instruments, books 
or any thing he had; this was a hberty that Stewart allowed him, 
and thought it nothing more than a mark of confiding friendship ; 
and we see Stewart loosmg nine dollars from his chest, and saying 
nothing about it, because Clanton was in the habit of unlocking it ; 
this he done to save the feelings of Clanton, because he believed 
Clanton to be an honest man: and he believed that Vess and his 
wife had taken his money from the chest ; and would then put Clan- 
ton under censure to save themselves. Clanton had every opportu- 
nity to examine the articles which Stewart had got from his store 
for four months; and if he believed that Stewart had not paid for 
them, why would he wait until May before he disclosed it? The 
reason why Clanton delayed his accusation until so late a period 
was, he had not been offered a bribe of one thousand dollars to tra- 
duce the character of Stewart until then : and so soon as this was 
the case, his imagination was very fertile in framing accusations 
against the honor of Stewart. 

When Clanton made his accusation against Stewart, he affected 
to be sorry, and whenever he spoke of it, he dissembled regret : — 
this was his stratagem to give effect to his base accusation. Yes, 
he could have wept over Stewart and shed a flood of crocodile tears 
for a tew dollars. Stewart was then convinced that Clanton was 
the man whom George Aker had alluded to, for the matter had 
then been fairly demonstrated by the charge made. Stewart re- 
turned the town lot which he had been complimented with by Clan- 
ton ; and told him that he would not receive any thing from the 
hands of a man who would charge him with dishonor. Stewart 
was advised by a friend, (whose experience enabled him to discover 
the base treatment he was receiving.) to settle his business in the 
Purchase, and go out of the influence and power of his enemies. — 
Stewart knowing that his life was in danger so long as he remained 
where he was, concluded to go to Lexington, Kentucky, and prCr 
pare the publication of John A. Murel's confessions and plans agamst 
community, together with their plans against his life and character. 
The former he considered due to his country, and the latter due to 
himself and friends. He selected Lexington, because he had pri- 
vate business at that place, and he considered that he would be as 
secure from the operations of his enemies in that city, as any other. 
In a few days Stewart had his business so arranged that he could 
leave it : and when he was prepared to start, he told Clanton that 
whenever he was convinced that he had acted dishonorable towards 
him, to pubHsh it to the world; but cautioned him of the bad conse- 
quences of being too premature in his conclusions and engagements. 
Stewart left the Purchase for Lexington, Kentucky: he passed 
through his old neighborhood in Tennessee, and spent a few days 
with his friends, and the community for whom he had risked so 



6S 

much, and enthralled himself in so many dangers and difliculties ; 
and incurred the never dying hatred of a host of spirits, who are 
more wicked and revengeful than the Prince of Darkness ; but 
Stewart looked on his lah^^rs as hjst, and himself injured, for Murei 
had escaped from prison, and left hin) nothing lor his dangerous ad- 
ventures only the information which Murel had given. Stewart was 
no company for his friends, neither were there enjoyments in those 
objects around him with which he was once delighted : he is one of 
those noble spirited youths who regards his honor and character as 
beinjj all that are worth livinij for, and the least infriiiffcment on ei- 
ther is calculated to render him unha|)py; and he saw himself sur- 
rounded with a legion of devils and slanderers, whose fate depended 
on his destruction. Their plan of operation he had learned from 
one of their clan, and that they were operating, he could have no 
doubts; under such rellections as these, there were nothing but the 
thunders of slander continually roaring in his ears : their designs 
against his life had become a small matter with him, when compar- 
ed with their designs for the destruction of his character. 

In a short time after Stewart had left the Purchase, Clanton and 
his agents had it circulated over the country, that Stewart had stolen 
a quantity of goods from Clanton and run away. Such reports 
were very mortifying to the feelings of Stewart ; and he started on 
to Lexington to prepare the publication, which he had designed for 
the public, so soon as the trial of John A. Murel was over ; but now 
that Murel had made his escape from piison before his trial, he 
deemed it his duly to lay before the world all the confessions and 
plans of John A. Murel and his clan against community ; and here 
we are led to pay a tribute of respect to the nobleness of heart, and 
magnanimous feelings of Stewart ; and even to a man whom he 
knew to be of the basest and most corrupt principles ; and agreea- 
ble to the confessions of his own tongue, his hands were often dyed 
in the blood of his fellow-beings. Yet we see Stewart withholding 
the horrid confessions, designs, and life of Murel, as given by him- 
self, from even his best friends, and divulging nothing on Murel be- 
fore his trial, only what was connected in some way with the crime 
for which he was then prosecuted, that he might have a fair trial, 
before legal representatives of his country, for the crime he was 
then to answer for. This Stewart done, that the minds of the peo- 
ple might not be prejudiced to unreasonableness against Murel, un- 
til after his trial, that law and justice might be administered. 

A short time after Stewart left his friends in Tennessee, for Lex- 
ington, John A. Murel was re-taken in Alabama, as was supposed, 
directing the operations of his plans ; and as Stewart was the only 
evidence on the part of the State, he w^as immediately followed by 
a young gentleman, to inform him of the re-capture of Murel. — 
Stewart returned to Madison county, and waited until Murel's trial, 
•which took place in July, 1834. After Murel was taken, his friends 
were the more industrious in trying to traduce the character of 



G3 

Stewart, and they were disappointed in their favorite plan of getting 
Stewart into their power, by the false accusation of having passed 
counterfeit money to them in Arkansaw. AVhen Clanton first made 
liis accusation against Stewart, it was done to excite suspicion in 
the minds of Stewart's friends in the Purchase, so as to enable his 
accusers from Arkansaw to carry him off to Arkansaw, to answer 
to their accusations against him ; where they intended to torture 
hitn to death. Stewart had many warm friends in the Purchase, 
whose confidence it was necessary to shake before their designs 
could have been eifected, and that was their stratagem to accom- 
plish it ; and we have other corresponding evidence which agrees 
with the assertions of George Aker in that matter — which is a copy 
of a letter that w^as found in the possession of John A. Murel, by 
the Sheriff of Madison county, some short time after he was re-ta- 
ken.* This letter directed certain individuals of his clan how to 
proceed with their accusation from Arkansaw, against Stewart, but 
they were disappointed in their fiendish purposes, and Murel again 
in the iron grasp of the law, before their bloody designs against 
Stewart could be accomplished, and the time of trial drawing near, 
their hopes were all hung on the accusation which Clanton had 
made against Stewart's honor: — and Matthew Clanton and his 
agents began to discover, that all who were acquainted with Stew- 
art looked on his accusation w^ith contempt, so thsy saw the neces- 
sity of supporting his charge with more substantial reasons, and 
enlarging it. Stewart had been keeping house for several years be- 
fore he moved to the Choctaw Purchase, and when he started to 
move, he packed up all his china-ware, and table furniture in a chest, 
and carried it with him, as he expected to need it at some future 
day. All these things Clanton accused Stewart of getting from his 
store, notwithstanding they had been used for several years. This 
he done to make his charge of as much consequence as possible, by 
reporting that Stewart had fitted himself out for house keeping from 
his store, and had not accounted for it on the books ; but as Provi- 
dence would have it, Stewart was among his old neighbors, who 
knew that he had kept house, and some of them had assisted him in 
packing up his furniture to move, so the enlargement upon the ac- 
cusation was equally disrespected with the first. Stewart was very 
secluded after he returned to Madison county, until after the trial of 
John A. Murel was over, and his mind was alive to all the marvellous 
and strange circumstances which had attended him in his adveii- 
ture, from the commencement. He was led to believe, that he was 
directed and protected by a superior power, whose guardian protec- 
tion took up and unfolded every plan which was laid for his destruc- 
tion, and defeated his enemies in all their designs against him. — ■ 

* This letter was read in court as evidence against Murol, and is filed in the Clerk's 
office in Madison county. Tliis copy of the letter was retained by Murel to prefer*© 
uniformity in their conduct. I have no copy of the letter, or it would have been giv^ 
en in this for publication. 



64 

Stewart was never heard to express a harsh sentiment against 
Clanton, until he heard the enlargement of his accusation, as ho was 
not fully satisfied on the subject until then, as he did not know what 
management had been employed by Vess and his wife toeffecttheir 
designs with Clanton, for he looked on these two people as he would 
on two fiends of hell, who were prepared to commit the most hor- 
rid crimes that the imagination is capable of conceiving; although 
other circumstances were conclusive against Clanton, yet Stewart 
was loath to relinquish him, and whenever he spoke of Clanton, it 
was with allowance : and would observe, that he not only deserved 
Clanton's confidence, but that he deserved his eternal respect ; but 
when Stewart heard that Clanton had included all his furniture 
which he had been using for several years, his resentment was as 
obvious as Clanton's guilt was apparent, for that was a matter in 
which Clanton could not be misled, unless he wished to be. Stew- 
art is one of those young men who is devoted in his friendship, gen- 
erous in his sentiments, and true to his country ; and where he has 
once felt a particular icspect; his friendship is almost implacable. — 
Stewart was too well known, for their base machinations to eftect 
his testimony ; and too many had proved the honor of Stewart to 
believe that he was worth no more than five dollars, or that he would 
treat Clanton with injustice. 

The trial of John A. Murel came on, and the court house xvas 
crowded to overflowing, with the deeply anxious spectators, who 
crowded around to hear the mystic web of Murel's daring feats of 
villainy unravelled before the jury that were to decide this iniportant 
case, in which the community were so deeply interested. The wit- 
ness, Virgil A. Stewart, was called — he appeared before the cour( 
'and waiting congregation, and was sworn: — he then commenced 
his evidence, by giving a narrative of his adventure, and developing 
all the circumstances and occurrences which led to the introduction 
and acquaintance with Murel and himself — frequently giving the 
subject of their conversation, and the language of the prisoner, as 
he expressed himself when in the company of the witness, and alt 
those feats of villainy, denominated and distinguished by the prison- 
er a-! the feats of this elder brother ; together with the nianner in 
■which the prisoner made himself known to the witness, as bejng this 
elder brother himself. He gave the occurrences and subjects of 
conversation, as connected with the confessions of the prisoner, 
both before and after he made himself known as the elder brother; 
and the wonderful actor of those feats which he had related. 

The witness commenced his testimony in the afternoon, and was 
stopped at dark, and the next morning resumed his place before the 
court and finished the evidence. He was many hours engaged in 
making disclosures, and was then cross-examined by the prisoner's 
counsel, on the evidence he had given in on the preceding day. His 
answers were clear and satisfactory to all but the prisoner and his 
friends. The manner of iV/urcl's detection, having disclosed on hi% 



65 

friends, they were afraid to appear in court, for fear of being known, 
and dealt with as such ; this misfortune of Murel's had disarmed 
him ; for had it not been for that, he could have proved any thing 
that he wanted by his own clan ; but now that their names were on 
a list which were given to the witness by Mui-el himself, they would 
not dare to venture into court to his assistance. 

Murel and his clan, failing to destroy the evidence of Stewart, 
they endeavored to prove that he was interested in the conviction of 
Murel, and that Parson Henning had hired him to detect John A. 
Murel, and got a man by the name of Reuben McVey, who was 
an enemy to Stewart, to come into court and swear, that Stewart 
had told him the fact ; but he, like all other liars, was caught in his 
own net, not Stewart ; his story had so many contradictions in it, 
that it was no evidence. Stewart was prepared to prove that Mc- 
Vey had sworn to a lie ; but the prosecuting counsel considered his 
evidence had proved itself to be a lie. So far from Stewart being 
hired to undergo the danger which he has done, in this adventure, 
he would not even receive a present of a handsome suit of clothes 
which Parson Henning wished to purchase for him ; as he had spent 
more than a month in riding after his negroes. Parson Henning 
was anxious to make Stewart a handsome present, as a token of 
his gratitude, for the kindness of Stewart ; but he would not ac- 
cept it. 

A specimen of malignant hatred. McVey ruins himself, by tiy- 
ing to do Stewart an injury. Stewart never considered McVey a 
man of honor, and for that reason he would not associate with him, 
Which was the spleen. 

Stewart's evidence was supported by the first class of gentlemen 
that the country afforded. 

John A. Murel was found guilty of negro stealing and sentenced 
to the penitentiary for ten years at hard labor. 

During the pleadings, a Mr. Brown, one of Murel's lawyers bore 
on the feelings of Stewart in an unwarrantable and dishonorable 
manner, for which Stewart was determined to give him a Stansber- 
ry reproof, so soon as he could meet him on the Street ; but he was 
prevented by his friends, who were old men, and he felt himself 
bound to respect their advice and request. Thus ended the trial 
and conviction of the great Western Land Pirate, who had reduced 
villainy to a system, and steeled his heart against all of the human 
family, except those who will consent to be as vile as himself, 

9 



ea 



CHAPTER VII. 

Some time after the trial of John A. Murel, Stewart left Madi- 
son county, for Lexington, Kentucky, with the intention of prepar- 
ing the pubHcation of the life, confessions, and designs of Murel and 
his clan against community, together with their base and horrid ef- 
forts, and designs, which had been made and employed against his 
life, and character ; which duty he considered due to his country and 
himself; and which he was determined to perform, notwithstanding 
the dangerous consequences attending it were fairly presented to 
him, in all the most hideous forms of danger and horror Avhich the 
imagination is capable of conceiving, by the private agents of the 
clan, who came in the garb of friends to Stewart. All such strata- 
gems as these have been employed with Stewart, to deter him from 
publishing to the world, their black and horrid deeds, awful designs, 
and unnatural purposes. Yet we see Stewart moving on with a 
firm nerve, to the performance of what he conceived to be his duty, 
undaunted by all the fictions of horror and death, which they were 
capable of presenting to his imagination. 

As Stewart was going on to Lexington, he turned off from the 
main road, and went into Perry county, to see a gentleman who had 
written to him concerning purchasing a tract of land which Stewart 
owned, in the State of Mississippi: as it was not much out of his 
way, ami he had been advised by his friends to go a circuitous route, 
to evade any efforts of his enemies that might be attempted, by fol- 
lowing or intercepting him on the way. Stewart attended to his 
business in Perry county, and intended to cross Tennessee river 
above Perryville, and to go by the way of Columbia and Nashville ; 
Ibut the determined perpetrators of crime and iniquity were too ea- 
ger to glut their never dying vengeance, by imbruing their hands in 
the blood of Stewart, (and they calculated to gain the possession 
t>f those hated documents, which had caused them so much unhap- 
piness and disquietude, with their victory over Stewart, which 
would greatly cRrich their conquest ; and double the value of their 
J)rize, as it would not only destroy the repugnant cause, but it would 
erase the more dreaded and heated effect, by preventing a publica- 
tion to which they felt such an aversion,) to suffer hin> to leave the 
country without their knowledge, notwithstanding his precaution in 
hot letting the time be known to even his best friends, until he was 
Jjrepared to start. Stewart had got on one of those long stretches, 
where there were no houses for several miles, on the road leading 
from Jackson to Patton's ferry on Tennessee river, in a broken hilly 
country; as he was descending one of those hills, he was suddenly 
stopped by three armed men, who had been concealed behind trees 
until he had arrived within a few rods of them. The man on his 
right ordered him to dismount from his horse, but Stewart refused. 



LofC 



67 

notwithstanding the superior number and arms which he saw around 
him, whose hostile vengeance were depicted in every countenance, 
as they stood with the instruments of death grasped in the wiUing 
hand, and expected every moment to feel the latal messenger of 
death, with his chilling power, cooling the warm fluids of life which 
flowed in his heart. He saw himself in the very jaws of death ; 
but the grim monster did not unarm the firm and resolute Stewart ; 
he was determined to sell his life as dear as possible, and die defend- 
ing the sacred gift, which he had received from his creator ; or at 
least to avoid the awful and cruel death of torture, which he knew 
the fiends, who had him in their power, would gladly inflict — and 
sport around the hideous altar with gay derision, glorying in the 
sacrifice they were offering to their Mystic Deity. Stewart was 
armed with nothing but a small pistol, which he had not more than 
two hours before taken from his portmanteau, and placed in his side 
pocket for convenience ; and a good strong dagger which he carri- 
ed in his bosom. The assassin on his right, who was within about 
two rods of Stewart, was armed with a large fowling piece, and the 
man on his left was armed with a good looking rifle, and the mon- 
ster who stood by a tree, which was nearest the road, placing him 
nearly in front, but at some distance before, was armed with a 
horseman's pistol. Thus displayed, forming a triangle, into which 
Stewart had entered. The assassin on his right appeared to be the 
commander, and after he had ordered Stewart to dismount several 
times, and still advancing until he was within eight or nine feet of 
him, he then halted and asked Stewart if he intended to dismonnt 
from his horse — to which inquiry he gave a negative answer. The 
assassin commenced levelling his piece on him, but Stewart being 
very expert in the use of a pistol, fired at the assassin's face, the ball 
struck him on the corner of his forehead, he fell back, apparently 
lifeless, and as he fell, his gun fired, but the muzzle had dropped 
nearly to the ground, and the contents struck the earth just after it 
passed under the belly of Stewart's horse. The assassin who was 
posted on his left, presented his rifle and fired without effect. The 
assassin who was stationed in front, with the horseman's pistol, see- 
ing that Stewart had drawn no other pistol, only the one which he 
had fired, concluded that Stewart was then unarmed, so he, to make 
a sure shot, advanced within a few feet of Stewart, and levelled his 
pistol at his breast ; but just as he was bearing on the trigger, Stew- 
art threw his empty pistol, with all his power, at the face of the as- 
sassin, and struck him over one eye, and across the nose — the assas- 
6in*« pistol snapped, and fell from his hand. He spurred forward his 
horse, and made several strokes at the assassin ; but he could not 
get near enough to him for the full force of his strokes to be receiv- 
ed by the assassin : — while he was engaged in trying to kill this fel- 
low with his dagger, the other assassin, who had the rifle, gave him 
two blows with his heavy rifle — the last blow was received on the 
back part of the neck, just where the head and neck joins, which 



6S 

camQ very near unjointing his neck, though it did not disengage him 
from his horse. He found that he was badly wounded, and betook 
himself to flight : and after he iiad gone thirty or forty yards from 
the scene of action, the horseman's pistol was fired at him ; one shot 
passed slightly through his left arm. Stewart had got about 3 miles 
from where he had received his wound, when he was compelled to 
dismount from his horse from excrutiating pain. He selected a 
thick wood, in a dale, under the brow of a steep hill, for a stopping 
place, as he hoped that its friendly protection would obscure him 
from the view of the merciless assassins ; as he was then too far ex- 
hausted to contend any longer ior his life. He remained in this 
wood until the next day, being unable to leave it. He had frequent 
fits of delirium during the night, and the next morning he began to 
reflect on his unhappy condition, and perhaps not in possession of his 
proper mind from his resolutions. He reflected on the dangers 
which surrounded him, until he came to the conclusion that it was 
his duty to leave America. His mind being fixed on its purpose of 
departure, he directed his course for Columbus, in the State of Mis- 
sissippi. His sufferings were great ; but he still travelled until he 
reached near the centre of the Chickasaw nation, where he was 
compelled to stop travelling for several days. He lay at the hut of 
an old Indian who treated him with great kindness. He continued 
his journey to Columbus as soon as he was able to ride, where he 
intended to take water for Mobile, at which city he intended to leave 
his documents and papers, in the hands of a friend, to prepare for 
the press ; but he was disappointed in getting a boat for Mobile. — 
So he concluded to take water from some point on the Mississippi 
river, but he was taken down before his journey was completed, 
with a return of the inflammatory effects of the wound in his head. 
And his travelling so long before he would give up, greatly augmen- 
ted the severe pain which he endured, but he was compelled to 
yield the giant resolutions of the mind to the weakness of a wound- 
ed and fainting body, that appeared to be relaxmg its power for a 
dissolution ; his fits of delirium became alarming, and he began to 
consider his recovery as very uncertain ; and made such arrange- 
ments as he wished, concerning himself and his aftairs. By his re- 
quest, I had engaged to perform his wishes, and take charge of all 
his business and papers. 

Stewart is recovering his health and mind, both of which have 
been greatly injured. 



BIO^RAFHICAI. SIIHTCH OF 
MR. VIRGIL. A. STEWART. 

He was born in Jackson county, in the State of Georgia, of re- 
spectable parentage, and was remarked for his steady habits while 
very young — a young man who is governed by high and honorable 
motives — of hberal and independent sentiments — honorable and 
correct in his dealings — grateful to his friends, and has many pecul- 
iar traits or character, lie is hated and dreaded by all villains — re- 
spected and esteemed in every country where he has lived, by its 
best citizens. 

The following declarations of sentiments are given for the satis- 
faction of those who are disposed to enquire into his merits. 

STATE OF GEORGIA— Jackson county. 

The undersigned, citizens of said State and county, do certify, 
that we have been acquainted with Mr. Virgil A. Stewart, former- 
ly of this county, now of Madison county, and State of Tennessee, 
for a number of years, (and some of us from his infancy) and that 
he has always supported a respectable and honorable character, and 
we take pleasure in recommending him to the confidence of the citi- 
zens of whatsoever county he may visit, assuring them that we en- 
tertain no fears, of his ever doing any act derogatory to his charac? 
ter as an American citizen, or in the least calculated to forfeit the 
confidence, to which he is herein recommended. Given under our 
hands, 15th Feb. A. D. 1S33. 

Wm. E. Jones, L. L. D. Giles Mitchell, L. L. D. George R. 
Grant, M. D. David Witt, Esq. Middleton Witt, L. L. D. H. Hemp. 
hill, John Appleby, George F. Adams, James I). Smith, Loyd W. 
Shackelford, E. C. Shackelford, Augustus J. Brown, Esq. Williani 
Cowan, Green R. Duke, E. A. K. Lowry, Wm. E. Davis, John 
Mackelnanon, John Carmicheal, Wm. N. Wood, Charles Bason, 
John Lindsley, Samuel Watson, Wm. H. Jones, Wm. Morgan, 
Jackson Bell, James Cunningham, Mr. D. A. C. Bacon, Lewis 
Chandler, Wm. Niblock, G. M, Lester, John Park, Maj. Williar^ 
Park, Samuel Barnet, Col. J. W. Glen, Esq. John Shackelford, 
James Nabers, James Orr, George Shaw, Maj. Wm. J). Martin, 
Esq. Charles Witt. 

GEORGIA — Jackson county. 

I, Sylvanus Ripley, Clerk of the Superior and Inferior Courts of 
said county, do hereby certify that I am acquamted with Mr. Stew- 
art, the person named in the above recommendation, and believe 



70 

him to be of good moral character ; and also with the persons whose 
names are signed to the same, as professionally connected, who are 
entitled to the same. 

Given under my hand and seal of office, the 27th day of Februa- 
ry, A. D. 1833. 

SYLVANUS RIPLEY, Clerk, [l. s.] 



GEORGIA — Jackson county. 

I, Edward Adams, one of the Judges, and Chairman of the Infe- 
rior Court for the county aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Sylvanus 
Ripley, who gave the above certificate, is. the Clerk of said Courts, 
and that his acts as such are entitled to all due faith and credit, and 
I further certify, that I am well acquainted with Mr. Virgil A. 
Stewart, and heartily accord with the sentiments expressed by the 
above respectable citizens of this county. 

Given under my hand and seal of office, the 27th day of Februa- 
ry, A. D. 1833. 

EDWARD ADAMS, J. I. C. [l. s.] 



STATE OF TENNESSEE— Madison county. 

The undersigned, citizens of said State and county, do certify that 
ive have been acquainted with Mr. ^ irgil A. Stewart, ever since 
fie emigrated from the State of Georgia to this country, and ihsit he 
pas supported a character of firmness and unsullied honor. 

Given under our hands, the 15th day of March, A. D. 1833. 

John Ilenning, William Long, Byrd Hill, Thomas Loftin, Wm. 
^vens, Mathias Boon, John Givens, R. H. Byrn. 



The following is the declaration of sentiments expressed by the 
citizens of Madison county, and community, towards Mr. Virgil A. 
Stewart, foi his intrepidity in ferreting out the conduct, and captur- 
ing John A. Murel, the great Western Land Pirate, 

STATE OF TENNESSEE— Madison county. 

We, the undersigned, citizens of said State and county, feeling 
sensibly the obligation which we are under to Mr. Virgil A. Stew? 
art, for the many dangers which he has encountered with courage 
and intrepidity, in ferreting out the Land Pirate, John A. Murel, 
and bringing him to justice, present the amount annexed to our names 



71 

as a donation, and token of our gratitude, for the important and 
dangerous services rendered by Mr. Stewart, in capturing said Pi- 
rate : believing, as we do, that he is entitled to it, for the loss of time 
and expenses which were necessarily incurred by Mr. Stewart for 
the public good : — and we mean further : by this subscription and 
declaration of sentiment, to manifest to the world our approbation 
and applause, for the course pursued by Mr. Stewart, and not only 
appreciate his courage, but discountenance the odium which has 
been attempted at his character, in pursuing so disagreeable a course 
for the good of community — and we further consider, that he de- 
serves to be protected and upheld, by all society, in the course he has 
pursued. 

William Armour, Allen Deberry, A. Petton, B. W. Burrow. M. 
Chalmers, Labon Dodson, M. Deberry, M. Cartmel, Jacob Hill, 
William Taylor, C. T. Harris, James Voss, Gabriel Anderson, John 
Garrison, D. D. McDonald, B. W. Perry, Samuel Givens, F. C. 
Edwards, E. H. Childers, Samuel Hays, J. H. Rawlings, Mills 
Durdin, Thomas Campbell, R. H. Lake, Hazael Hewett, H. R. La- 
cy, John Sanford, Zebulon Jackson, G. Slayton, Alfred Sharp, S. 
Sypert, George Hicks, John Harrison, John Burrow, F. McKenzie, 
E. McKnight, A. Hutchens, G. Snider, John T. Porter, Philip 
Worlick, Mathias Boon, Thomas H. Shores, H. S. Ross. 

I, Mathias Deberry, do hereby certify, that I am, and have been, 
the Sheriff of the county aforesaid, for a number of years, and that 
I am personally acquainted with all the persons whose names ap- 
pear to the above declaration of sentiments, and take pleasure in 
testifying, to all whom it may concern, that they are of the most 
honorable and respectable class of citizens of our State ; and that 
the above declaration of sentiments towards Mr. Stewart, has bef^ft 
subscribed to by all the like characters who have had an opportuni- 
ty presented, as far as I have reason to believe ; and that the above 
subscription was unsolicited on the part of Mr. Stewart. 

Given under my hand, at Jackson, the 29th day of September, A. 
D. 1834. 

MATHL\S DEBERRY, Sheriff. 



The following is the copy of a letter, written by Mr. Virgil A. 
Stewart, to one of his friends, in which we are enabled to discover 
many traits of his character and disposition. 

Madison County, Sept. 15. 1834. 
Dear Sir — I received your kind letter of the lOtli. lam truly 
grateful for the many tokens of friendship which you have manifest- 
ed towards me, and your advice, which your age and experience 
■would compel me to respect, exclusively of the deep interest which, 
I have every reason to believe, you have long felt in my welfare 



72 

and happiness. You manifested some fears that I would endeavor 
to avenge myself on the person of Matthew Clanton ; but be assur- 
ed, sir, that I have no such intentions ; notwithstanding I consider 
he deserves my greatest abhorrence, yet I had much rather he should 
live to enjoy the tortures of a reproaching conscience, and the 
rich infamy for which he bartered iiis principles, than t;) stain my 
hands and character With his blood. Vengeance belongs to our 
Creator alone, under whose guardian protection I look for ample 
support in that matter. I will unfold his infamous conduct, and pre- 
sent things to the world as they are, and let an enlightened world 
judge between me and Matthew Clanton. So long as I was doubt- 
ful on the point of his being misled by others, I framed as many ex- 
cuses for him as I could, and examined all my conduct, to see if it 
was calculated in the least to excite suspicion. I was also cautious 
of speaking derogatory of his character ; for so long as 1 could have 
had the least shadow of belief that Matthew Clanton was honest in 
his charge against me, and that any imprudent conduct in me had 
been calculated to excite his suspicion of my honor, I would sooner 
have sought refuge from the unjust reproach of the world, among 
the savage haunts of the forest, where the track of civilized man 
has never yet been made, than to have uttered one word that would 
have been the least calculated to injure his character. Yes, sir, I 
had rather spend my days among savage haunts, where there is no 
sound but that of beasts of prey and savage yells to be heard, with 
peace of conscience, than to enjoy all the plaudits and honors of 
an admiring world, with the bitter reflection, that my enjoyment 
had cost the destruction of the happiness or character of one inno- 
cent fellow-being. Be assured, sir, that I will never resort to vio- 
lence and rashness, unless it is provoked, and I could resort to such 
a course only while in the heat of a passion, which I shall never en- 
courage. I will endeavor to be governed by more laudible princi- 
ples. 

I feel the truest pleasure in seeing and knowing that my friends 
and community, resent the dishonorable treatment I received from 
Mr. Brown, in his sophistical pleadings. And I would here remark, 
that the assumed privilege of abuse and calumny, and sarcasm on 
witnesses (when supported in it by good evidence,) by the gentle- 
man of the bar, is calculated, in the highest degree, to retard the op- 
eration of law and justice — and if all men were of my opinion on 
that subject, it would be relinquished by them, only when supported 
by unquestionable evidence. 

I wish to remind you of the unfair propositions, or rather syllo- 
gisms in the sallies of his pleading : 

Ut. He declared that I had acted with deception, and practised a 
falsehood on John A. Murel, in procuring his confidence, by repre- 
senting myself as a horse hunter, and a villain : and contended that 
he who will act a falsehood or practice a deception, will, or the next 



73 

step is to swear to it ; — and therefore I deserve no credit — and 
should not be credited, or respected by a human being, &c. 

2d. He represented me as the friend of John A. Murel, and de- 
clared, that a man who would betray the confidence of his confiding 
friend was a villain, and that I had betrayed the confidence of my 
confiding friend, therefore I was a villain, &c. 

To the above dishonorable and unfair mode^f reasoning, (in a 
court of justice at least,) I thus reply to Mr. Brown. When I w^ent 
after John A. Murel, I was not after a friend, but an enemy to me, 
and all honest community, whose outrages were insufferable ; and 
whose systematical plans evaded all attempts of the law to bring 
him to justice. Thus lay the insulted dignity of our national institu- 
tions, which were erected and established for the protection of our 
lives, liberty and property, trampled under toot of that daring incen- 
diary and his practical legion, who gloried in the carnage they were 
making in our property ; and the disquietude they produced in the 
social hands of society, having for their end the destruction of both 
the former and the latter. In my opposition to this formidable ban- 
ditti, I honestly considered that I was authorized to imitate the acts 
of our great men of the nation, as the biography of great men are 
given as a pattern and guide for the youth of the rising generations, 
and to which I am indebted for the most of my little knowledge of 
man, and the physical world : — and whose o})inions and acts, we are 
bound to resjject in proportion to the renown of tke actor. 

As to the deceptions I practised on John A. Murel, in obtaining 
his confidence and disclosures, I refer you to the following in justifi- 
cation of my acts. 

Recollect the deception practised by Gen. Wasliington (at the time 
Major Andre, the British spy, was captured,) in trying to get Ar- 
nold, the traitor, back into his possession ; and recollect Washing- 
Ion's reasonings on that subject. Sir, they will sustain me, and cov- 
er Mr. Brown with shame and confusion. And again I refer you to 
the deception of Col. Washington, at Claremont. See his strata- 
gem, in causing the garrison to surrender by a deception he practiced 
upon them, in mounting the trunk of a pine tree on wagon wheels, 
so as to I'esemble a field piece, which caused them to surrender ; and 
has ever been considered a gallant act of Col. Washington. But 
because I dissembled the character of a villain, for the purpose of 
learning the conduct of many villains, and ridding a community of a 
craft that is destructive to the peace and happiness of all civil and 
honest society, Mr. Brown is not willing that I should ever wear 
any other character only the infamous one which I represented to 
John A. Murel ; and he professed to see no virtuous motives in my 
conduct which propelled me to action. No, Sir, as there were no 
large fees or some other selfish consideration to influence my ac- 
tions it was a mysterious matter with him, because his own narrow 
soul is too small to render the same services: — and for that very rea- 
son, all such men as Milton Brown have no right to express their 

10 



74 

contracted views of me and my conduct : — and if expressed, enti- 
tled to no credit. I consider him, and all such men, nothing more 
than the organ through which the venom of a detestable and pirati- 
cal clan of villains was vented towards me, whose machinations and 
calumny were ignobly piled on my character by Mr. Brown, like 
another ignominious hireling in iniquity. 

Would Mr. Brown condenm the deceptions of either of the Mr. 
Washington's, as above related ; if he would not, he must sustain 
me, for the deceptions as above related, and mine with John A. 
Murel, are synonomousin principle, both having the same object in 
view, and would be the same at the bar of moral rectitude ; only 
the acts of the former are the acts of illustrious persons, and the 
latter the acts of an obscure young man. 

I entered into no oaths with John A. Murel and his clan, neither 
have 1 forfeited any promises. I complied with the only promise 
which I made to John A. Murel, which w as to visit him within 
three weeks or sooner from the time I parted with him at Wesley, 
which promise I complied with, or fulfilled in a few nights after we 
parted, for I visited him in company with the guard on the night that 
he was arrested, which visit saves my promise. Neither did 1 make 
any assertions of deception for which I ever expect to receive the 
disapprobation of my Creator. Yet Mr. Brown asserted that I had 
lied to serve my country, and that the next step was to swear to a 
lie — and will he say that General Washington lied to serve his 
country, and that the next step he would have sworn to a lie for the 
sake of getting the traitor Arnold into his power, because he resort- 
ed to a stratagem, to restore justice to his injured country. Sir, 
there is nothing more detestable to me than a vain sceptic. 

As to betraying the confidence of a friend, i consider that I have 
at least as much honor as Milton Brown, and I hope more love for 
my country, and less vanity for self aggrandizement — I feel the 
greatest contempt for Mr. Brown's calumny, and no man who 
cherishes correct principles could have so wantonly and so uncalled 
for, heaped abuse on the character of a man who had underwent 
the dangers and disagreeable trials which I was necessarily com-> 
pelled to undergo, in capturing John A. Murel ; and what makes 
his scepticism and abuse the more disgusting to good sense and feel-, 
ing, it was unsupported with even the shadow of evidence, and must 
have flowed from a desire to please a train of villains, and a pirati- 
cal clan of robbers, together with the hope of acquiring the charac- 
ter of a great criminal lawyer, without the least regard for truth, 
honor, justice or principle. 

It is the duty of a lawyer to see that his client has been legally 
dealt with, and that if he is convicted, he is convicted agreeable to 
law ; but he has no right to abuse the character of a witness, when 
he has no proof to sustain his abuse, merely because he is a witness. 
Sir, I do contend, that it was my duty to cane Mr. Brown, to teach 
him a lesson which he ought to learn, although I was governed in 



75 

that by the advice of my best friends. My evidence was support ^d 
by the best of characters, and there was no exceptions taken to my 
evidence, on the cross examination, and why that volley of abuse 
which I received from that son of vanity ? Mr. Brown resorted to 
barefaced lying in his pleadings. Recollect that part of my evi- 
dence where Murel turned off from the road to eat ; you know that 
I stated to the jury, that I asked Murel his reasons for going so far 
from the road to eat ? he replied that he would not be surprised if 

that d d old Methodist, whom he had been telling me of, was to 

have some person following him, knowing him to be a particular 
friend of those two young men of Madison county ; and that, if there 
was any person following him, he would much rather have them 
before him than behind him ; as he would know better how to man- 
age them. Therefore he went into the woods to eat, so as not to be 
seen by passengers who might pass while we were eating ; but 
mark the way that Mr. Brown tried to turn that part of my evi- 
dence in his pleadings. He contended, that I said that Murel told 
me to go on, that he had much rather have people who were follow- 
ing him, befoi-e than behind him. By this barefaced perversion of 
my evidence, he tried to prove that Murel knew that 1 was the man 
who was following him ; and as such, would not have made so ma- 
ny disclosures to me. Look at his shallow scheme : how could 
JViurel say to me, go on, when he was before me, and me following 
him — and when Mr. Brown was corrected by the Judge, he still 
contended obstinately that he was correct. 

Sir, please to indulge a few syllogisms of mine. Any attorney 
who will wantonly lie, and misrepresent evidence, for the sake of 
getting an opportunity to abuse a witness, to please a clan of vil- 
lains, or heap calumny and abuse on a witness when he is supported 
in it by evidedce, for the sake of acquiring the character of a great 
criminal lawyer, is a base, corrupt, and dishonoi'able man ; and 
should not be respected by a human being. Milton Brown has done 
all these things. Therefore he is a base, corrupt, and dishonorable 
jnan, and should not be respected by a human being on earth. 

I am determined never to let any thing that is said .of me, by mean 
men, render me the least unhappy. If I can escape violent hands, 
that is as much as I can reasonably look for, placed in my disagree- 
able situation ; I have every reason to believe, that the honest world 
are all my friends ; and I have every evidence of their respect, 
which I shall forever endeavor to deserve. I expect to start to 
Lexington in a few days. 

With great and sincere esteem, I am 

Your most obedient friend and servant, 

VIRGIL A. STEWART. 

The above letter is given, because it developes the views and sen- 
timents of Mr. Stewart, relative to his course of conduct with Mur- 
el and his friends, much better than we are able to describe them. 



LB D '04 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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